Lukashenko expects Belneftekhim new head to increase profitability and exports
Belneftekhim Concern needs to reach higher profitability and increase exports – as noted by President Aleksandr Lukashenko, when making personnel decisions and agreeing to appoint new heads of Belneftekhim Concern and Belaruskali
Ilya Ikan became the new Chairman of Belneftekhim Concern. The Head of State admitted that he appreciates the fact that Mr. Ikan once worked in the concern structure, but warned, “You know it’s not easy. And I count on your good relations [with new CEO of Belaruskali Andrei Rybakov], who will help you get up to speed. I would like you to maintain business, human relations in the name of the state, and I would like Belneftekhim not to fail.”
The Belarusian leader stated that the concert was a rival for many companies, and so Westerners tried to strangle Belneftekhim. However, thanks to the previous head Andrei Rybakov and the concern staff, the work of the petrochemical industry managed to be kept at the proper level.
At the same time, the President underlined that ‘profitability is not high’, “We need to reach higher profitability. We need to [add to it] at the expense of exports, first of all. It is also necessary to complete the investment projects.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko pointed out that when the question arises where to inject funds, it is necessary to invest them in scientific schools and competencies that we have today. He cited glass fibre production as an example, especially since Mr. Ikan had previously headed Polotsk-Steklovolokno JSC.
“If your former company knows how to make glass fibre, I am sure you know better than anyone what kind of fibre you need to produce for import substitution and entering the market. If we refine oil, we know where to go and which products we should produce,” the President underlined.
The Head of State emphasised that it is necessary to invest in what we can do, “We have a lot of such areas in both civilian and military industries. This is the most important direction.”
