Lukashenko urges light industry to seize emerging opportunities

Today’s difficult situation that was partially caused by the sanctions opens up new opportunities for the domestic light industry, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he heard out a report from Chairwoman of the Belarusian light industry concern Bellegprom Tatiana Lugina, BelTA has learned.

The head of state noted that many foreign companies left the Russian market. Imports to Belarus also dropped. “Thus, this opens up an opportunity for you to take this niche in our main market Russia and in the domestic market. Therefore, if you and other sectors, for example, agriculture, miss out on this opportunity, you are worthless. Now you have no one in your way. And you are monopolists by and large, you have no real competition. That is the possibility that this difficult period offers. I keep saying this all the time. A crisis gives us a hard time, but it is a chance, it is an opportunity, first of all, for the light industry. We have everything in place. We have fabrics, we have sewing machines, qualified personnel, including technologists and managers and seamstresses and others who knit and do other things - we have everything. Therefore, everything depends on us and our actions. And if you have any problems, just let me know. We will deal with them right away. It is easier to solve them now,” the president said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that the focus on exports is a good thing, but one should not forget about the domestic market that turned out to be up for grabs by God knows who. “They brought all kinds of stuff here, from second-hand items to brands. And people bought this schmatte or brands. We have more than 2,000 light industry enterprises, but they were nowhere to be seen,” the president noted.