Łukašenka tells new CEO of wood conglomerate to retain European market
Alaksandar Pšonny (left)
April 4, Pozirk. Alaksandar Łukašenka has appointed Alaksandar Pšonny as the new CEO of Biełlespapierapram, a state-run wood, pulp and paper conglomerate, his press office reports.
Pšonny, a former deputy CEO, fills the position left vacant by Michaił Kaśko appointed as ambassador to India on January 4.
“If you work properly, you can sell in Europe and anywhere you want,” the Belarusian leader instructed Pšonny.
Belarus increased trade with Poland almost 5-fold in some commodity groups, he added, noting that Poland, Germany and the European Union prioritize business interests.
“There are no friends and no foes for business. There are just interests,” the Belarusian leader’s press office quoted him as saying.
EU sanctions introduced in March 2022 affected more than 40 percent of Biełlespapierapram exports, its former CEO Kaśko said earlier.
Belarusian woodworking companies evade sanctions by redirecting exports to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, from where relabeled Belarusian products are delivered to Europe and sold using forged documents, investigative journalists reported earlier this year.
Despite the restrictions, Biełlesekspart, the conglomerate’s export arm, sold $118 million worth of timber in 2023, its CEO Leanid Dziamjanik said at a news conference in mid-March.
The Belarusian ruler has also promoted Siarhiej Stalarčuk to CEO of the Development Bank of Belarus and appointed several regional executives, including Maksim Antaniuk as head of the Baranavičy City Executive Committee and Dźmitryj Haradziecki and Alaksandar Iljasievič as deputy heads of the Brest and Minsk Regional Executive Committees, respectively.
Officials launch reforestation drive after boasting high timber exports
March 19, Pozirk. The Belarusian forest management ministry has announced a tree-planting public campaign from March 23 to April 20 to promote reforestation. Anyone interested can apply to a local forestry department, which will provide seedlings and share information on …