10.11.2011
Lukashenko demands more effective management of state property
MINSK, 10 November (BelTA) – State property should be managed more effectively, said President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko at the government session held on 10 November to discuss state property management.
Alexander Lukashenko said he was worried about how the state property that had been created by several generations of the Belarusians is used. He reminded that Belarus was a large assembly workshop during the Soviet Union times. “In modern conditions it seems we should not develop everything in that manufacturing potential. There are however many promising areas that require more care and attention”.
Rational use of the nation’s legacy is the most important matter, the President believes.
On the other hand, Belarus is interested in modernizing and enhancing its economic potential. Alexander Lukashenko said that a lot of hope is often pinned onto foreign investments. He believes “We should rationally and effectively use what we have on our own, multiplying, developing and enhancing our property”.
Addressing those present at the session, the head of state said that the existing practices used to manage the state property should be discussed seriously and in detail, positive and negative aspects of the existing practices should be revealed.
Alexander Lukashenko pointed out several drawbacks in this area. At present over 2,000 state-owned real estate properties with the total area of 840,000 square meters are not used. The head of state said that efforts to make the unused state property part of the economic cycle are not systemic, involve formalistic and irresponsible practices.
The President is also dissatisfied with the efforts to attract investors. “Around half of the unused properties are discarded or mothballed. Moreover, some government officials, who are responsible for this work, don’t even know the relevant laws,” said the head of state.
Multiple violations are involved in renting out the state property ranging from formalistic attitudes to inventorying to the total lack of control over the transfer of rental fees to the budget.
The President said that government representatives get paid while failing to properly manage state-owned shares in Belarusian joint stock companies.
He said that all the mentioned negative aspects are in the responsibility zone of local authorities, ministries, oblast administrations, administrations of enterprises.
Alexander Lukashenko said the government believes the procedure used to make decisions on managing the state property is too heavy with red tape practices and would like to transfer some authority of the president and local level government officials to ministries, municipal authorities and heads of enterprises. Alexander Lukashenko doubted the advisability of removing the procedure out of control of the president. He reminded that a decision was made once to accelerate the procedure of state property transfer and usage at the level of oblast administrations. Alexander Lukashenko said the government and oblast administrations will be made answerable for all the unused properties at the end of the year.
Alexander Lukashenko told the government he would like to hear how the state property is managed now and what specifically can be done to improve it. The head of state said he intended to hear out municipal authorities and the opinion of the State Control Committee. After that the necessary decisions will be made.
Alexander Lukashenko said he was worried about how the state property that had been created by several generations of the Belarusians is used. He reminded that Belarus was a large assembly workshop during the Soviet Union times. “In modern conditions it seems we should not develop everything in that manufacturing potential. There are however many promising areas that require more care and attention”.
Rational use of the nation’s legacy is the most important matter, the President believes.
On the other hand, Belarus is interested in modernizing and enhancing its economic potential. Alexander Lukashenko said that a lot of hope is often pinned onto foreign investments. He believes “We should rationally and effectively use what we have on our own, multiplying, developing and enhancing our property”.
Addressing those present at the session, the head of state said that the existing practices used to manage the state property should be discussed seriously and in detail, positive and negative aspects of the existing practices should be revealed.
Alexander Lukashenko pointed out several drawbacks in this area. At present over 2,000 state-owned real estate properties with the total area of 840,000 square meters are not used. The head of state said that efforts to make the unused state property part of the economic cycle are not systemic, involve formalistic and irresponsible practices.
The President is also dissatisfied with the efforts to attract investors. “Around half of the unused properties are discarded or mothballed. Moreover, some government officials, who are responsible for this work, don’t even know the relevant laws,” said the head of state.
Multiple violations are involved in renting out the state property ranging from formalistic attitudes to inventorying to the total lack of control over the transfer of rental fees to the budget.
The President said that government representatives get paid while failing to properly manage state-owned shares in Belarusian joint stock companies.
He said that all the mentioned negative aspects are in the responsibility zone of local authorities, ministries, oblast administrations, administrations of enterprises.
Alexander Lukashenko said the government believes the procedure used to make decisions on managing the state property is too heavy with red tape practices and would like to transfer some authority of the president and local level government officials to ministries, municipal authorities and heads of enterprises. Alexander Lukashenko doubted the advisability of removing the procedure out of control of the president. He reminded that a decision was made once to accelerate the procedure of state property transfer and usage at the level of oblast administrations. Alexander Lukashenko said the government and oblast administrations will be made answerable for all the unused properties at the end of the year.
Alexander Lukashenko told the government he would like to hear how the state property is managed now and what specifically can be done to improve it. The head of state said he intended to hear out municipal authorities and the opinion of the State Control Committee. After that the necessary decisions will be made.