It is essential to ensure the normal operation of the transport industry in spite of sanctions, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he heard out a report of Deputy Prime Minister Anatoly Sivak and Transport and Communications Minister Aleksei Avramenko on 16 August, BelTA has learned.

“Belarus is a transit country, and you must do your best to ensure the normal operation of the transport industry,” the Belarusian leader said.

“I am just being realistic. Of course, there can be a setback, but only a short-term one. Probably, it should have ended by now. We understood that they will not leave us alone, that they will continue to pressurize us with sanctions. What is the state of affairs right now? If there are any problems, how are you going to handle them?” the head of state wondered.

At the beginning of the meeting Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked that the first question of the agenda of the today’s meeting was the importance of the transport industry in the social and economic development of the country. “Please don’t tell me about its importance. I have been president for many years and I know what the transport industry is and what role it plays in Belarus' social and economic development. Tell the press secretary or the Belarus President Administration about it if they don’t know,” the Belarusian leader remarked.

Addressing the participants of the meeting, the president emphasized that he is concerned about the same issues they are concerned about. “Starting from Belavia, when those crazy people [abroad] started to stifle our company. Now it is clear why,” the head of state said. He asked what is the state of affairs at Belavia and in the Belarusian transport industry in general.

In this regard, Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked that the export of transport services exceeded $2 billion in H1 2021. It accounted for almost a half of the total volume of foreign trade in services. “These are big volumes, a huge amount. Belarus is a transit country,” the head of state stressed.

Written by belta.by