Lukashenko: any unnecessary intermediation within Belarus must be eliminated

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko believes it is necessary to eliminate any unnecessary intermediation within the country. The Head of State stated this today while receiving a report from the Chairman of the State Control Committee, Vasily Gerasimov, as reported by a BELTA correspondent.

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko believes it is necessary to eliminate any unnecessary intermediation within the country. The Head of State stated this today while receiving a report from the Chairman of the State Control Committee, Vasily Gerasimov, as reported by a BELTA correspondent.

"Another area we need to work on very seriously (we talked about this at the All-Belarusian People's Assembly) is intermediation. Intermediaries contribute to increasing the cost of goods by up to 30 percent, and sometimes even more for certain items. We do not need such intermediation. And any intermediation within Belarus must be eliminated. What kind of system is this: I buy goods from abroad, and I still need some kind of intermediary? No intermediaries are needed. A corresponding proposal should be made here," said the Belarusian leader.

"Then they come and say: here, they (intermediaries. - BELTA note) provide deferrals, offer other benefits, and we go to them. All aspects must be considered, and unnecessary intermediation must be eliminated," instructed the Head of State. Alexander Lukashenko noted that the State Control Committee works extensively with the real sector of the economy. "We cannot get away from this either. You must see how the real sector of the economy functions. Control must be ensured here," demanded the Belarusian leader.

At the meeting, the President inquired about the past year's results from the Chairman of the State Control Committee, identifying shortcomings and areas requiring focus. "Your main assessment pertains to the budget and state property. These are the primary areas of your work. How do you see them? Besides the core responsibilities of the State Control Committee, figuratively speaking, there are many issues traditionally linked to the committee in practice. This includes control over wage payments. You also keep an eye on the tax system. The financial police are under your supervision. How is it functioning? What do we need to add here?" the Head of State outlined the questions.