PM reported on control of import prices, and President told a story about cocoa beans
The situation with prices for imported goods has been discussed at today’s meeting with the President of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, BelTA reports
“Work is underway to establish control over the supply of imported goods to the domestic market at adequate prices. As of today, the scheme is the following. The State Customs Committee monitors the value of more than two thousand imported commodity items, and – in case of establishing the facts of exceeding the value (we have a base of the real value of such goods) – it immediately informs the Ministry of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade. The latter, in turn, analyses how this affects inflation and takes preventive measures. Over several months of operation of this system, about eight thousand facts of importation at a price higher than the indicative one have been detected. This work will continue," Mr. Golovchenko reported.
The Head of State wondered whether it is possible to prepare a list of importers for the main commodity items. "If it is profitable," he added.
The President explained his proposal, telling a story from the past. He was once asked to assist in importing cocoa beans into the country. Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that he was not deeply involved into the matter then but decided to support the businessmen with one condition common to all: cocoa beans should be delivered to the Belarusian market at prices lower than the existing ones at that moment. "Three months later they came to me and said, “We have brought cocoa beans and sent them to Kommunarka [Confectionery].” I asked, “Did the latter accept them?” They replied, “How could they have not taken? The director said he would be sent to prison if he refused to take. This was because cocoa beans were then much cheaper [than the market price].” I then invited the businessmen to bring all the volumes if it was cheaper."
"They really brought cocoa beans at a cheaper price – demonstrating the calculations and how much they earned as a result. That is normal. So why cannot we agree with people on critical groups of goods?" the Head of State wondered.
"I believe that if someone can offer imported goods at a cheaper price, then this should be encouraged,” the PM responded. “The task that I approached several times (unfortunately, unsteady logistics broke it) deals with the creation of the main categories... Cocoa beans could serve as a restricted example, but we have tomatoes and bananas as well; the operating importers oversee these products and know the scheme. I had even an idea of establishing a huge distribution centre for such positions at Bolbasovo [logistics centre in the agro-town of Bolbasovo].”
"That’s about right! It was created for such purposes,” the President stressed.
"We came close to that, and we even had agreements. However, the situation with sanctions and COVID slightly broke the scheme. Actually, we will bring it to the end, because this is the right way. We should not monopolise everything, but we will definitely work it out on the main categories of goods," Mr. Golovchenko promised.
