Bridges and roads: state’s top priority

The Belarusian leader made a working trip to Gomel Region

On November 6th, President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko attended the opening ceremony of a bridge across the Pripyat River in Mozyr. Representatives of the labour teams from the road construction organisations involved in bridge’s construction, as well as residents of Mozyr District, were invited to the event.

Built in 1958, the bridge across the Pripyat River in Mozyr is located on the R-131 road and is one of the longest (over 900 metres) road bridges in Belarus. The large-scale reconstruction began in November 2023.
Addressing those present, the President emphasised that this structure is very important not only for Gomel Region but for the entire country. According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, engineers and builders assure that the renovated bridge has a guaranteed service life of at least one hundred years.
“Bridges and roads are a key priority for the state. The government must focus on developing infrastructure,” the Head of State underlined.
In other words, the state establishes the conditions and opportunities for people to develop, live and work. Figuratively speaking, it provides the fishing rod, but people ‘have to catch the fish’ on their own. “There is a road — feel free to travel by personal car or public transport. Here is a piece of land — build a house, grow and develop. If possible, we will offer some support with housing and other needs,” the President pointed out.
Likewise, the Head of State emphasised that companies and business organisations should function independently — mainly depending on their own initiatives, working hard, growing, and achieving results instead of passively waiting for assistance or problem-solving from the government.
Aleksandr Lukashenko explained that the state faces broader tasks overall, including ensuring security and creating conditions for the effective functioning of the economy. The external situation further adds to the difficulties.

“The situation is not  simple. People need to understand this. The West, together with the Americans, has decided to come after us. Sanctions, sanctions, sanctions... To build this bridge, we somehow needed to find means somewhere bit by bit and get this project done,” the Head of State noted.

The same applies to the agricultural sector. Local authorities must independently resolve local issues, while the state is responsible for overall infrastructure, monitoring land use, and, for example, conducting land reclamation works, which is particularly relevant for the Pripyat region.
“No one, no private individual, will build canals and structures,” Aleksandr Lukashenko noted. “No one will, except the state. This is why we have focused on land reclamation.” This primarily concerns the restoration of the reclamation systems that were built during the Soviet times. “Of course, we should have started this work earlier, but there were always difficulties, including financial ones. We have somewhat neglected these issues. I saw that land was becoming unusable, overgrown with scrub. These [reclamation] canals were getting overgrown. We had to tackle this issue head-on. Therefore, land reclamation is an issue of primary importance,” the President emphasised.

UKRAINIANS ARE INVITED TO COME TO BELARUS 

During the opening ceremony, the President of Belarus expressed his willingness to accept more migrants from Ukraine into the republic
The Head of State noted that Ukraine is very close, and at first, he even declined the invitation to visit Mozyr District. “I thought that, considering the war in Ukraine, it might not be suitable for us to celebrate or for the President to come here... I understand how that might be perceived,” he said. “However, I believe Ukrainians will forgive me. Ultimately, we are linking the shores partly for their advantage.”
“We are open and ready to welcome Ukrainians. We will gladly receive you and ensure that your families and children enjoy a quality of life similar to that of Belarusians, especially in education and healthcare,” the President emphasised.
He also noted that many Ukrainian migrants who have arrived are already employed, including in Gomel Region. “We are ready to accept them. For us, Ukrainians are a blessing. They are very diligent people who understand us and speak the same language,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stated. “However, misfortune has struck our neighbour’s home. I believe we will find a way to settle this issue.”

Opening of a bridge across the Pripyat River in Mozyr                         BELTA

During his working trip to Zhitkovichi District on November 7th, Belarus’ President Aleksandr Lukashenko outlined the terms for providing state support to enterprises

While reviewing the region’s industrial potential, the Head of State visited the Saturn-1 company in Zhitkovichi. The enterprise specialises in manufacturing components, assemblies, and other parts for railway rolling stock. 
The President’s first question was why the plant had seen a decline in production volume. Factory Director Mikhail Saskevich explained that their products were previously in high demand for the railways of Russia and Belarus. However, market needs later shifted, creating demand for components and parts for tank cars, which led the plant to master this new product line. Consequently, for objective reasons, industrial production volume saw a slight dip, but this shift has opened up new prospects. According to the director, contracts are now being signed for deliveries in 2026, and the company is even expanding its market reach to include Kazakhstan. “So, you see a clear prospect of demand for your products, right?” the President clarified, receiving a positive response.
The Head of State pointed out that railway transportation and everything related to it will undoubtedly continue to develop. “Our market is huge — Russia, Kazakhstan. This market will always be in demand. Such a vast territory cannot exist without railways,” he said.
Aleksandr Lukashenko also called for closer co-operation between domestic enterprises in the sector. Specifically, he suggested that Belarusian Railways, when purchasing parts and components, should focus more on domestic manufacturers. “We need enterprises like this one right now — a small, compact enterprise that can adapt quickly,” the President said.
Such businesses were promised support and assistance from the state. “You are an experienced person, you see the prospect, so go for it. If you need something, we will help. If it benefits the country, we will help. Let me put it this way: there is no extra money. That is a fact. But we lack solid, promising projects for the funds we can allocate. So, take advantage of this moment. No one will just give money away for nothing.

We will only provide money for projects that will generate new money tomorrow and ensure the return [of the invested funds]. That’s all. We must end this nonsense. Enough with the attitude of ‘Batka will come to the rescue!’ We will. But we will not proceed in such a reckless manner,” the Head of State said. 

NOVEMBER 7TH: WE MUST NOT FORGET WHAT HAPPENED 

President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko made a remark on the significance of October Revolution Day
In particular, the Belarusian leader emphasised, ‘we don’t want any new revolutions’. “Yet, there are people who have a positive attitude towards this holiday. Well, let them have their holiday. We will remember that there was such a holiday. We must not forget what happened. We must not wound people who are now retired, who are leaving this world. They should rest and know that we are worthy successors to their work. That is a nice holiday. We have made it modern. What’s wrong with us making a little hurry to open it [the renovated bridge over the Pripyat River in Mozyr, opened on November 6th]. If we had not gone there yesterday, Ivan Ivanovich [Ivan Krupko, the Gomel Regional Executive Committee Chairman] would have been tinkering with it until spring, developing and landscaping. We spurred him on, and he got it done — and it is the same all over the country,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stated.

TRUMP NOMINATES COALE AS U.S. SPECIAL ENVOY TO BELARUS 

The U.S. President, Donald Trump, has nominated lawyer John Coale as Special Envoy to Belarus, TASS reports.
According to TASS, Poland’s Deputy Foreign Minister Marcin Bosacki stated that Coale is engaged in talks with the Belarusian authorities.

Based on materials of sb.by and belta.by