Visit to OOO Savushkin-Orsha

It is essential to take care of people – workers of enterprises – and their salaries when addressing issues regarding the operation of certain enterprises, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said during the working trip to Orsha on 28 August where he is visiting a cheese-making plant of OOO Savushkin-Orsha.

Upon arrival the head of state asked about the performance of the enterprise and its development prospects. The modern facility is gradually increasing its production capacity, needs new workforce and raw materials.

Apart from that, there is an indebted melted cheese factory in Orsha. In current conditions, the products of this factory are easily replaceable, and salaries of workers are one third lower than salaries at OOO Savushkin-Orsha. It was mentioned that specialists can be employed at a new enterprise and their salaries will increase. Besides, a certain volume of raw materials will be released. Aleksandr Lukashenko gave an instruction to address the issue, to think what to do with debts, and to find sources for repayment.

The president stressed that people’s salaries and highly productive jobs are a priority. “I am concerned about people,” he said. “We should not forget about people. We need to start to work as we should from 1 January. Mogilev Oblast – a land for a zone of raw materials – can be used if necessary.”

Orsha should more actively use its own resources for local development, the head of state is convinced.

“There is nothing to be proud of yet. You are still living at the expense of the state. Do not think that we will carry Orsha on our shoulders through the next five-year period, too. You will have to pull your socks up,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

Vitebsk Oblast Governor Nikolai Sherstnev told the president that the overall situation in the region has not changed a lot; the region is operating steadily; the social and economic situation is not tense. Aleksandr Lukashenko asked about progress in the construction industry, agriculture, manufacturing, transport and communications, oil processing, as well as expectations regarding gross regional product by the end of the year. This figure is expected to be 1-2% behind the target.

The head of state was told about the construction of new agricultural facilities in the region. Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized that decisions on building farms should be made on the ground. “Why do you raise this matter at the level of the president? You want to transfer power down from the top. Go ahead and take this power. Why should the president decide whether a collective farm will build something with the help of its own people or another organization,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

The head of state visited the Savushkin-Orsha company in the city. The president studied the company’s performance and talked to the staff. He offered his vision of the development of the region. “A lot has been done for this city, and this is not because it is my native land, but because its development model was supposed to become an example for other similar cities (Borisov, Molodechno, Baranovichi and others). We are following the path we started in Orsha. Next year we will finish this saga and you will have to show concrete results,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “I know that you still need to do something, to build something, but you will do it on your own with a little support from the state. Besides Orsha, we have district capitals, urban-type settlements and agro-towns to improve, and there is a lot of work there,” the president said.

One of the employees asked the president to take the construction of a polyclinic in the Zadneprovie-3 residential neighborhood under control. According to the local authorities, the construction of the healthcare facility will be financed by the central and regional budgets; the polyclinic is scheduled to be commissioned in 2023.

The head of state noted that this should be a no-frills project. “We will build so many polyclinics that they will not be used to their full capacity. This polyclinic project should be optimal,” he said. “If we have planned this project, we will accomplish it,” the head of state added.

When visiting the Savushkin Orsha company, Aleksandr Lukashenko asked about the dairies in the region that show the same high results as this manufacturing facility. According to Vitebsk Governor Nikolai Sherstnev, these are virtually all cheese-making factories, in particular in Verkhnedvinsk, Postavy and Braslav. He also cited Glubokoye Dairy as a good example.

The president stressed that there should be no difference between state-run companies and private businesses. Both the state-owned and private companies should be well-performing businesses using cutting-edge technologies and achieving great results. Close attention will be paid to this. All manufacturers should work in equal conditions, the head of state noted.

“Right now we do not need these disputes. We should focus on the economic sector. This is the level we need to reach [the matter pertains to Savushkin Orsha]. There should be no big difference between Moshensky [owner of Savushkin Product and Santa Bremor] and Sherstnev, and so on. We need to create a level playing field for all, starting with commodity zones,” the head of state said.

“There is just one thing: we will make an emphasis on allegiance and loyalty to the state, not Lukashenko, to make sure what has happened recently will not happen again. Most privately-owned businesses have started running afoul of the state. More so, many of them have started acting low,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

The head of state added that people will not be persecuted for having a different opinion. “Here we have many journalists. Half of them may have opinions that differ from those of the government. They, however, do not go on strikes, undermining the country at a time when the country is facing a big threat from outside” the head of state said.