Фото: Пул первого
Losses at Belkaapsayuz’s retail organizations increased elevenfold in the first half of the year. Aliaksandr Lukashenka cited the figures during a meeting on rural retail trade. According to him, the consumer cooperative system, which is the largest retail network in rural areas, continues to operate inefficiently.
Lukashenka said Belkaapsayuz posted a net loss of 16.4 million Belarusian rubles in the first half of the year, an elevenfold increase compared with the same period last year. He also pointed to the organization’s substantial accounts payable. As of July 1, overdue payables stood at 86 million Belarusian rubles.
He also referred to data from the State Control Committee, which inspected 1,021 rural retail outlets during the first six months of the year and found violations in 90% of them.
“Expired products, rotten food and the like. This is simply outrageous and unacceptable,” Lukashenka said.
According to Lukashenka’s press service, he asked Belkaapsayuz Board Chair Inesa Karatkevich two questions: who is to blame and what should be done.
He also reiterated that other retail chains should “share” the profits they earn in large cities and support rural areas.
“There are plenty of shops and shopping centers in Minsk and the regional capitals, and competition there is intense. Rural residents, however, are far less spoiled.”, he said.
“Simply put, if you want to skim the cream and make profits in major cities and the capital, then take responsibility for the remote villages as well,” Lukashenka added.
It should be noted that a year ago Aliaksandr Lukashenka had already harshly criticized Belkaapsayuz, drawing attention to its retail losses, the excessive salaries of the organization’s management and the reduction in the number of retail outlets despite state support.
At today’s meeting, Lukashenka again set the goal of eliminating the differences between urban and rural areas.
“I closely monitor how our people live in the regions — housing, jobs and social infrastructure. That’s part of my job.
The task facing the entire state administration is to erase the differences between the city and the countryside as much as possible. But to do so without erasing the countryside itself. That is why we are developing key rural settlements — agro-towns and large villages,” he said.