Lukashenko enlarges list of exporters to sell foreign currency

MINSK, July 26 (Itar-Tass) -- Belarussian President Alexander
Lukashenko issued a decree to enlarge a list of enterprises, which are
obliged to sell the foreign currency to the state.
The Monday presidential decree abolished several benefits in the
compulsory sale of foreign currency being in effect up to now.
"Several benefits in the compulsory sale of foreign currency being in
effect up to now are abolished due to the current situation on the
internal foreign currency market and in order to provide equal conditions
for all economic entities," the Belarussian presidential press service
reported.
Meanwhile, the decree envisages a higher percentage of foreign
currency sold compulsorily to the state.
Belarussian exporters should sell 30% of foreign currency revenues and
to keep the rest of it. In some cases economic entities were exempt
partially or fully from the compulsory sale of foreign currency revenues.
Belarussian experts described the foresaid decision as one more
instrument "to wheedle the foreign currency" out of the enterprises amid a
sharp foreign currency crisis. Meanwhile, they believe that these measures
to seize the foreign currency from the exporters will not improve the
situation and the foreign currency deficit will remain alarming on the
domestic market.