President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko is in favor of eliminating national protectionism in the EAEU when accessing state procurement. He said this at a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in Moscow, BelTA informs.
According to the President, the volume of public procurement in the EAEU countries is almost $200 billion. In fact, the states as buyers of goods, works, services fully manage this market, as well as determine the procurement policy and purchasing channels.
"If we really manage it, let's ensure mutual access at least where the products manufactured in the EAEU can become an effective source of meeting the state needs," urged Alexander Lukashenko.
However, he noted that national protectionism still remains in this area: in reality, the market is protected not from imports from third countries, which account for almost two-thirds of state purchases of the EAEU, but from goods and services produced in the countries of the union.
"I am convinced that the issue of expanding mutual participation in public procurement requires an urgent decision. Because it is closely related to import substitution and technological sovereignty. And by and large it is our security and independence," the head of state is convinced.
