Opinion: Belarus has unique development path, and it is followed in the interests of the country and its people

Belarus can become an example of successful state development for other post-Soviet countries – as noted by Nadezhda Lazarevich, the First Deputy Chairperson of the Minsk City Executive Committee, in her talk with Alfa Radio

“Even the Russian Federation has looked at us – both at our manufacturers and the competencies we have retained – in a completely different way after 2020. True, our factories need to be modernised, we should improve our production facilities, expand and increase manufacturing volumes. However, we have preserved our product, and we are moving along our own path. True, we do not boast many natural resources, but we have another resource: people. The President of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, absolutely correctly chose the course many years ago: he focused on our people, giving them the opportunity to develop through competencies and the potential of the industrial enterprises that we have in most cases preserved since the Soviet times. Moreover, many new facilities have begun operating in the country, and small and medium-sized businesses are developing in Minsk,” Ms. Lazarevich said. “As regards the import substitution programme, I believe that this is not just a document stipulating what needs to be done: it is a programme product that has been operational for many years and that has given us the opportunity to feel good even under sanctions pressure. Faced with that situation, people did not stop, but continued buying new equipment and developing their competencies. As soon as it became possible to occupy certain niches domestically and in the neighbouring territory, Belarus’ production volume began rising. This happened since we had the necessary competencies and were able to act promptly. Belarusians did not face hunger, lack of heating or any products they needed for a daily routine.”

The expert expressed gratitude to representatives of small and medium-sized businesses who managed to quickly refocus to the necessary production.

“True, we are moving along our own unique path. Importantly, we are developing in the interests of our country and our people. Over the past four years, everyone has already seen that everything – which Belarus’ Government focuses on and the President is aiming at – really produces results for the benefit of our people,” Ms. Lazarevich added.