Lukashenko: Belarus should keep up with the world economy, science, progress in the next five years

MINSK (BelTA) – In the next five-year term Belarus needs to keep up with the world economy, science and progress. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko made the statement during the government conference held on 26 May to discuss the draft main provisions of the program on Belarus' social and economic development in 2016-2020, BelTA has learned. The program will be submitted for consideration of the fifth Belarusian People's Congress.

The President stated: “We need real but ambitious goals. In the next five-year term we should recover what we've lost. It is desirable that we should keep up with the world economy, science and progress. Falling behind is not an option. We should not fall behind because we have everything for gaining every year. This program needs to stipulate what needs to be done to reach this goal.”

In his words, the program has to clearly define ways and mechanisms for implementing the plans. “If we aim for a specific GDP figure, we need to know how we can reach it. Where are we going to sell merchandise and how much?” noted the Belarusian leader.

Prime Minister of Belarus Andrei Kobyakov delivered the main report during the government conference. The President raised several issues during the discussion. In particular, Alexander Lukashenko was interested in learning whether the goals that the Belarusian People's Congress will discuss are intensive and feasible, what instruments are available for recovering the previous five-year term's losses, and what needs to be done to secure economic growth at least as high as the world's average — 2.5-3.5% per annum.

“Meanwhile, I don't want to hear excessively pessimistic estimates that slide to the level of the previous years. No pessimism!” stressed the Belarusian leader.

Alexander Lukashenko added that more than one meeting will be held to discuss preparations for the fifth Belarusian People's Congress in the run-up to the actual event. “It is our exam, a serious exam. In the near future we are going to discuss various facts at different levels.”