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Small business association urges Lukashenka to allow kiosks to sell Belarusian beer

The Perspektyva small business association has urged Alyaksandr Lukashenka to lift a ban on beer sales at retail kiosks, saying that it would help many domestic breweries trim their inventories.

In an interview with BelaPAN, Perspektyva leader Anatol Shumchanka referred to the government’s efforts to enlist the help of private businesses to increase sales of domestically made goods.

“A number of Belarusian breweries are experiencing difficulties with beer sales. Unable to compete with Russian and Ukrainian companies, Belarusian breweries are cutting output and bringing tons of beer to landfills,” Mr. Shumchanka said.

The Belarusian leader should send a clear signal to private businesses that the government is interested in their help, he noted. “His reaction to our proposal to allow Belarusian beer sales at kiosks and pavilions will determine whether their intention to use businesses’ help is serious,” he said.

The government’s move to lift the ban would encourage private traders to step up their work to sell Belarusian-made goods, Mr. Shumchanka stressed.

“Mobile small businesses will manage to sell goods made by, say, Bellehpram [the Belarusian State Light Industry Concern] in various parts of the world more efficiently and quickly than some officials or managers,” the Perspektyva leader said.