New Belarusian Prime Minister Shares his Working Plans

The new Prime Minister of Belarus Mikhail Miasnikovich reported on December 30 that the Belarusian government planned to revise the structure of government. The Prime Minister said a number of ministries could be transformed into other forms of governance, including the possible merger of several ministries into a single one.

In addition, Mikhail Miasnikovich said that the government might change the subordination of the enterprises to the ministries. If the ministries are more involved in state-owned enterprises or state share today, they may also become engaged in the municipal enterprises and mixed property organizations in the future, as well as companies without departmental affiliation.

«The task for the ministries is to conduct state policy in the industry, regardless of departmental affiliation,» Mikhail Miasnikovich said. In his view, such an approach would allow «influencing the process in any industry at the state level rather than through the so-called manual control.»

The Prime Minister also noted that such an approach was also due to the transition of state statistics to the global practices, based on national classifications of economic activities, from January 1, 2011, BelTA,

However, Mikhail Miasnikovich convinced that it’s necessary to give more power to the regions — provincial, municipal and district executive committees, providing an integrated and harmonious regional development. «They know how to solve any issue in their regions, everything can’t be done in Minsk,» the Belarusian Prime Minister stressed.

Government Not to Substantially Change Foreign Policy, Miasnikovich

The Prime Minister also said that the Belarusian government would not significantly change the foreign policy. «Foreign trade of Belarus, as well as foreign policy, is quite reconciled, it is multidirectional, we have a lot of interest in foreign markets, so we carry out our policy on the basis of state interests, and strive to respect our partners,» Mikhail Miasnikovich said.

According to the Belarusian Prime Minister, Belarus has a lot of interest in both the East and the West. «What is needed is respect for the position of partners and neighbors in the East and the West, the European Union, the CIS and the Arab world, China, India, African countries; no need for some significant changes,» Mikhail Miasnikovich said.

«Another thing is that we should take a more active trade and economic position, we must enter into transnational corporations, alliances to be not competitors in the market of technology but partners,» the head of the Belarusian government. «For this purpose Belarus needs to integrate into the automobile industry, machine building, agriculture,» Mikhail Miasnikovich said.

The Prime Minister pointed out that Belarus would work actively enough, using the latest forms of cooperation and integration, recognized in the world. «There will be more joint ventures with foreign capital, which means new technology and more competent distribution of raw materials and products. All this will contribute to sustainable socio-economic development of Belarus,» the Prime Minister of Belarus said.