Lukashenko at a meeting on the creation of port capacities: it is necessary to make a final decision

It is necessary to make a final decision on what needs to be done to create port facilities for transshipment of Belarusian cargo - to build a terminal, a port, or to modernize an existing one, and to start work immediately. This was stated by President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko at a meeting on the creation of port facilities, according to a BELTA correspondent.

The head of state noted that the issue of port facilities for transshipment of Belarusian cargo was already considered in January this year. It mainly concerned potash fertilizers. Today, this topic will also be discussed, which is quite obvious, given the large volumes of supplies, but the issue of oil product supplies will also be added. "The directions of work have been determined, the necessary decisions have been made. It is time to synchronize and, if necessary, adjust and coordinate our further actions and plans," the President said.

"The situation and the foreign policy environment are developing extremely dynamically today. But, it must be admitted, the Belarusian economy continues to work and find new opportunities in these difficult conditions," Alexander Lukashenko emphasized. "We must promptly respond to all challenges and guarantee the delivery of export cargo to buyers. The key moment is the speed of decision-making."

In this regard, the head of state outlined a number of key issues. One of them is: what stage is the creation of own capacities for maritime transport at? "It is clear that we have left (not of our own free will) the traditional ports and are working on transshipping our cargo, which is about 20 million tons, in all ports of the Russian Federation," the President noted.

"Are there any concrete results in this direction?" he continued. "Which ports are involved in the transportation of potash fertilizers and oil products, what are the problems in this regard? Do we have an understanding of how much potassium we can transship through the ports of the Russian Federation on acceptable terms?"

In addition, there are alternative options for cooperation in the northwestern region of Russia. "This should be the main issue," Alexander Lukashenko pointed out. According to him, Belarus now has two possible options, each with its own advantages and disadvantages - Murmansk and Primorsk.

"We need to make a final decision on what is needed – to build a terminal, a port, or to modernize an existing one, and start working immediately," the head of state emphasized. "As far as I know, somewhere near Leningrad we are both building and modernizing. Near Murmansk, we are still floundering."

The meeting also discussed a draft decree on the export of certain types of goods.

Source: belta.by