Belarus and Russia may achieve almost complete import substitution within five years. This was stated by President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko on October 28 at a meeting with the Governor of Russia's Sakhalin Oblast, Valery Limarenko, as reported by a BELTA correspondent.
"We must be independent in all areas. We must ensure that goods are not imported to us, but exported from us, and that people come here, to Russia and Belarus, and ask us to produce certain goods for them," the President emphasized.
Much has already been done in this direction. Russia is assisting Belarus with credit resources for the implementation of joint projects. "Moreover, we now have more projects than planned. Ranging from minor things (microelectronics) to aircraft construction. We will build the 'Osvia' aircraft in Belarus, which will be in high demand in the future. It is already in high demand in the Russian Federation today, and for us, this opens new horizons, new competencies. And this applies to all areas – we must be economically independent," stated Alexander Lukashenko.
"I think that over the next five-year period, if, of course, we continue to be pressured like this, we will achieve almost complete import substitution. If there is no pressure, we might relax," the head of state noted with a touch of humour. "Therefore, all these sanctions are also a time of opportunities."