BRASLAV DISTRICT, 11 August (BelTA) – Prices for staples in Belarus should be balanced out with those in Russia, the chairman of the State Control Committee of Belarus Alexander Yakobson said as he met with the personnel of Mayak Braslavsky production cooperative on 11 August, BelTA has learned. Prices for dairy and meat products in neighboring Russia and Ukraine are several times higher than in Belarus. According to Alexander Yakobson, this is the reason why Belarusian goods are bought en masse by enterprising Russians and Belarusians and exported outside the country. There are no borders and customs barriers in the way of this “business”. “With these products, they export the budget of the country because the production of milk and meat is subsidized from the budget in Belarus,” said Alexander Yakobson. In his view, the rise in prices for staple foods in Belarus and their leveling off with prices in Russia are inevitable. "People need to realize that there is no other way. We must align prices with those in effect in neighboring regions. Yet there should be no hikes but gradual increase, by 3-5% per month," said Alexander Yakobson. However, the head of the audit department is convinced that price increases should be accompanies with wage rises. "Wages should be increasing provided that everyone does his/her job well, increases productivity, reduces costs," he stressed. The chairman of the State Control Committee Alexander Yakobson went on a working trip to Braslav District, where he got familiar with the progress in the development of agriculture industry, harvest campaign and answered questions from employees of the Mayak Braslavsky production cooperative and Braslav bakery which is part of Vitebskkhlebprom Company.

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