"The issue is in the upbringing of youth." Trade Minister explained why Belarusian products cannot withstand competition in the domestic market
Belarusian Minister of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade Artur Karpovich stated in an interview with state television that one of the main reasons for the decrease in the share of Belarusian goods in retail trade is "the consciousness of our people."
Artur Karpovich. Screenshot from video
According to the minister, the problem has deep roots and is related to upbringing. The minister believes that many people, especially young people, prefer well-known global brands, sometimes without even thinking:
"This is a profound question. This is a question of the upbringing of our younger generation, the upbringing of our children, the upbringing of youth, who often prefer well-known global brands, not thinking that sometimes it's a fake, yes. They chase fashion."
At the same time, according to him, the main criterion for choice should not be the brand name or label, but the quality, availability, and price of the product. He emphasized that it is important for a buyer, having purchased, for example, shoes from a Belarusian manufacturer and being convinced of their quality, to trust that manufacturer again next time.
Artur Karpovich also noted that he himself supports Belarusian products and urges others to do the same. To achieve this goal, a campaign under the slogan "Every Friday – Our Own!" is being held in the country, which government agencies have already joined. Social advertising involving children is also planned to foster respect for domestic goods in society.
The minister added that when people buy Belarusian goods, the money stays in the country and works for its economy — it goes towards salaries, education, social services, and pensions. If buyers notice shortcomings in Belarusian goods, they should, in his opinion, report them to the manufacturers so that they can improve their products.
According to Belstat data, in 2025, the share of Belarusian goods in retail trade decreased to 54.4% (2 percentage points less than in 2024). In the food segment, it was 75.7% (0.6 percentage points less), and in the non-food segment – 34.9% (2.4 percentage points less). If we talk about the decade from 2015 to 2025, the share of Belarusian goods decreased by almost 15 percentage points.
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