Lukashenko turns down proposals to raise prices for dairy products

Enterprises should earn higher profits through a more efficient manufacturing process, rather than higher prices for socially important goods, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he toured Minsk Dairy Plant No. 1 on 12 August, BelTA has learned.

Minsk Oblast Governor Aleksandr Turchin proposed to increase prices for some whole milk products. According to him, this will improve the economic situation of enterprises. "There's this only request... This is not a popular measure, of course. Unfortunately, the production of a number of items is money-losing. We do not want to profit off, but the production of some goods does generate any profits at all," he said.

"Are you proposing to raise prices for whole milk products?" Aleksandr Lukashenko asked directly.

"Some positions, not all products. In terms of milk..." the governor began to innumerate the positions.

"People buy mostly milk and kefir. You're an economist. What will we do with pensioners? There's nothing more to say to it. We cannot count on price increases... Let's have higher milk yields. Then there will be higher profitability," the President replied.

The state has social obligations and one should not forget about them. And most importantly, he stressed, enterprises should increase profitability primarily through a more efficient manufacturing process, rather than price increases,

Aleksandr Lukashenko said.