Address of Barley, Malt, Hops & Beer Union to the President of the Republic of Belarus A.Lukashenko, to the manager of the brewing industry, the Deputy Prime-Minister M.Rusiy, the Minister of Industry and Agricultural Sector S. Sidorsky, concerning use of malt in beer, inaction of “Belgospishcheprom” supporting transnational companies in Belarus, motivated for holding a governmental conference on “The present situation and prospects for the development of the brewing industry in Belarus”.
Today’s saying: “Belarus beer is natural and imported beer contains “nasty things”. Do you really think that imported beer is better than Belarus beer? Will you continue to poison Belarus citizens? – exclaimed the President.
Products of transnational companies came under criticism for using poor quality raw materials (sacchariferous components, unmalted grain material, flavors and conserving agents).
As explained by the President, Belarus beer is natural. By old tradition when someone goes to the bath-house with imported and native beer, he can splash it out and smell. Belarus beer has a bread smell, it is “live” and natural.
A. Lukashenko was also doubtful of the effectiveness of the large-scale technical re-equipment of the brewing plants in the country. The President noted that since 2007 over $300 millions have been invested in the industry. “When it was decided to modernize the brewing industry you (representatives of “Belgospishcheprom”) cried: We need money, we fall behind Western countries. It is nonsense”, – added A. Lukashenko. He noted that 80% of the brewing industry was sold and privatized and only 20% are now in state hands.
Besides, A. Lukashenko reminded that seven years ago it was decided to reequip plants, expand plant capacities and increase output. Also the rules for entry of the global brewing companies into Belarus market have been determined. Beer is an alcohol and this industry is high-margin. Why is it destroyed? By his opinion, in case of inadequate performance the private companies will be taken back into the state control.
If any one plant is low-margin or unprofitable, especially among privatized, they will immediately be transferred back into the state’s hands like “Kommunarka” and “Spartak”. He added that the chiefs of these companies including management team of “Belgospishcheprom” will be punished within 24 hours.
On the part of the companies of our Union, we thank the President of Belarus for the responsible attitude to the problems of the production chain “malting barley – beer”. For the second time the President and Presidential Administration show keen response to the requests of our Union: for example, introduced ban on importation of malting barley into the Republic of Belarus http://barley-malt.ru/?p=4915&lang=en.
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