Syamashka: “Russian business wants to buy everything it can”

Speaking at the session of the Belarusian Association of Industrial Enterprises in Minsk, first vice prime minister Uladzimir Syamashka made a number of statements on the Belarusian economy development.

Syamashka admitted, Belarus has “difficult tax system” and higher tax burden than Russia has. “But we are reducing tax burden, and haven’t raised VAT this year. We’ll continue this tendency,” he said. He also emphasised work on state budgeting for 2009 had begun in Belarus and institutions should offer proposals on optimisation of the legal system. These proposals should have been made by April-May this year.

Import substitution programme ion Belarus is too stiff

First vice prime minister of Belarus Uladzimir Syamashka thinks Belarus has too stiff import substitution programme: “A 10-million country can’t produce all it needs. The import substitution programme is too stiff. The State Control Committee thinks everything from bolt to final product must be produced in the country. But this requirement is too strict.”

He stressed Belarus should cooperate with industry of other countries. “I worry about Russia first of all. There is a plenty of civilised ways to close supplies. It was done with sugar. But we propose real cooperation. We should build normal mutual relations with Russia at governmental level and solve the problem of industrial cooperation,” the first vice prime minister thinks.

U. Syamashka noted representatives of big Russian business came to Belarus to “buy everything they can.” U. Syamashka finds this position wrong and is sure that building of equal business relations with Russian companies is possible.

The tendering procedure is planned to be simplified for industrial enterprises in Belarus

The tendering procedure is planned to be simplified for industrial enterprises in Belarus, U. Syamashka said: changes to the president’s decree on tendering process are being prepared. Theses changes will be adopted within a month, and directors themselves will be able to hold tender purchase of equipment.” He noted Belarus has too complicated and long tendering procedure of purchase of equipment, it is also needs to be agreed with numerous ministries and institutions. “If modernisation of enterprises faces an obstacle of tenders, this obstacle must be removed, and it will be done soon,” the vice prime minister said.