OREANDA-NEWS. February 16, 2010. President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has approved a proposal concerning the streamlining of the structure of the Belarusian Agriculture and Food Ministry. The President made the relevant statement at a government session held on 16 February to improve the organization and management of the Agriculture and Food Ministry.

Participants of the session considered three draft laws submitted by the government, namely a draft presidential decree on creating an auditing agency for agriculture Belselkhoznadzor, a draft decree on merging Glavzhivprom (an agency in charge of supervising pork and beef manufacturing) with Belptitseprom (an egg and poultry manufacturing association), a draft order on converting some organizations of Belplemzhivobyedineniye (livestock breeding) and Belsemena (seed production) into municipal enterprises. The proposals were initiated by Agriculture and Food Minister Semyon Shapiro.

The President said he liked the idea. In his words, the Glavzhivprom-Belptitseprom merger is appropriate and does not require special discussions. It can be considered an internal affair of the Agriculture and Food Ministry, part of the management trimming and de-bureaucratization efforts, said the head of state.

The establishing of the auditing agency Belselkhoznadzor as part of the ministry requires discussing it taking into account domestic circumstances and foreign trade efforts of the country, said the President. He pointed out that in view of Belarus’ accession to the Customs Union the country needs auditing bodies similar to those other Customs Union countries have. “But interests of our country must prevail,” added Alexander Lukashenko.

The President said that the re-organization of the state agencies in charge of livestock breeding and seed production require special attention as the matter directly influences quality parameters of agriculture development in provinces and the country as a whole. Regional and national interests must be balanced, said the Belarus President.

Alexander Lukashenko stressed that the reform should improve the operation and the financial state of companies.