MINSK, 4 February (BelTA) – Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is alarmed by the negative trends in the domestic manufacturing industry. The head of state voiced his concerns as he heard out a report about issues in the manufacturing sector at a session on 4 February, BelTA has learnt.

«You promised earlier that our exports will increase by leaps and bounds, as this matter is of paramount importance for us. The Prime Minister assured me that today’s conversation about the sales of domestic products will be conducted on a positive note,» the head of state said addressing the attendees.

The President pointed to the growth in foreign accounts receivable, reduction in exports, and poor financial standing of industrial companies. The head of state emphasized that the meeting aims to analyze how the instructions and the obligations are fulfilled and how the promises are delivered.

Alexander Lukashenko reminded the attendees about the session held in June 2013 to discuss challenges in the manufacturing industry and the sales of Belarusian products. At that session instructions and personal assignments were given to a number of officials. Each of them was to supervise the companies that had sales issues. «Back then we agreed that by the start of 2014 considerable progress would be made in reducing the finished goods inventory and getting the money for the products we sell,» the head of state noted. He reminded that the specific targets and deadlines related to output growth and reduction of finished goods inventory were presented during his visit to the company Motovelo in early September 2013.

«The government reports that the situation with the finished goods inventory is improving; they claim that they have managed to reverse the situation,» the President said. At the same time, statistics suggests that the industrial output shrank by nearly 5%, the foreign accounts receivable increased, debts for manufactured and unpaid goods are accumulating. All in all, they reached Br118 trillion, which is equal to more than two average monthly outputs. «What kind of a breakthrough is that if the companies do not get the money for the products they sold? The gap between the foreign accounts payable and the accounts receivable is growing and we still credit our foreign partners. Simultaneously we make up for it by tapping into our banking sector and consequently complain of expensive loans in Belarus,» Alexander Lukashenko said.