Kochanova: Belarusian economy keeps going despite unprecedented sanctions
MINSK, 17 January (BelTA) - Chairwoman of the Council of the Republic Natalya Kochanova met with the chairmen of thecity and district councils of deputies, executive committees of Minsk Oblast, BelTA has learned.
"We have held such meetings in almost all regions of our country, with the exception of Mogilev where such a meeting will happen tomorrow,” Natalya Kochanova said. “We have summed up the results of 2022 and outlined the main tasks facing our country, the executives of all levels for 2023 and for the five-year period as a whole."
The speaker recalled that the main areas and priorities of the country's development for the five-year period were determined at the sixth Belarusian People's Congress. "In 2022, despite the unprecedented sanctions pressure, the economy of our country functioned normally. Enterprises, organizations keep going, wages are paid. Social programs and projects are being fully implemented, and we continue to be a welfare state," the speaker of the upper house noted. “Moreover, last year pensions were increased three times. Wages were raised. The president set the task to increase the salaries of employees of budget-financed organizations in 2023. For the first time, we had a surplus in foreign trade. Merchandise exports increased. We did our best to take all the niches that became vacant. Enterprises posted profitability of more than 13%, which attests to the efficiency of their work."
The economy is the foundation of everything, Natalya Kochanova noted. "The president always emphasizes that. First of all, we must focus on the work of our enterprises, organizations, institutions. People should get paid, they should have a job. Let me remind you of the tree-tier goal set by the president: prices - employment - wages," the speaker added.