Point of View

“The Russian government and Russian automakers will have to resolve a number of fundamental issues. First, we need to introduce modern technical regulations setting requirements for automotive safety and reduction of polluting emissions. By removing outdated equipment from the market, we will make the air in our cities cleaner and, most importantly, we will save thousands of lives that are lost today in road accidents.”

“Getting back to the auto industry, we need to seriously increase the competitiveness of the Russian auto industry. In just a few years, we were able to attract all major automakers to Russia. We were able to convince them to open their assembly plants in Russia and now they are working in this country. Today, they have become an integral part of the Russian auto industry and are full-fledged representatives of Russian auto manufacturing. But this alone is not enough; it is only the first step. Our end goal is to build a modern auto industry in Russia, including the entire production chain - from the steel sheet to the end product.”

“Issues of training engineering personnel and the company conducting its own research and development are of considerable importance and need to be addressed. Of course, we cannot hope for an instant result. But if promising potential is created, we may one day talk of establishing reputable Russian centres for the development of new automotive equipment and new concentrations of know-how.”

“The government provided various types of assistance to KAMAZ last year. A total of 25 billion roubles were allocated to the company: 19 billion roubles went to the direct purchase of vehicles, and a further 6 billion roubles were allotted through a leasing agency. This government assistance helped the company to sell 40% of its production.”

“We will also allocate an additional 250 billion roubles to encourage mortgage lending and stimulate demand in the housing market. We discussed this issue at the United Russia congress, and we have committed ourselves to it.”

“The federal government alone will allocate 30 billion roubles from its budget for purchasing vehicles. Last year we allocated 35 billion roubles, and this year 30 billion roubles. If necessary we will increase funding, depending on the situation. Another 11 billion roubles have been budgeted for buying up old cars for a recycling programme. This is a new programme, and as you are aware, entails certain challenges. Unlike other countries, Russia has never done anything like this before, and consequently the necessary infrastructure is lacking. There are not enough scrap companies in the regions, and unfortunately so far no logistics system has been developed for transporting these vehicles to the disposal sites. But work is under way. I hope that we'll be able to begin this programme in March as planned.”

"To resolve the problem as it stands now, after deciding that these vessels can fish in our economic zone if they are registered in accordance with Russian legislation, and to pursue any other related problems, we should do the following: The owners of these vessels built with the above-mentioned loan should register them as the property of the Russian Federation. After that, these vessels will be reregistered in accordance with Russian legislation, including registration with the Federal Agency for Fishery, so that the crews will be able to start using these vessels immediately. The Federal Agency for Fishery will either lease these vessels back to the companies, or sell the vessels back to them but only on condition that they resolve their debt completely, some owners of which have repaid 85%-90% of the loan."

"Strategically, we should establish oil refineries in Russia, to process oil here and sell refined oil products. But today this strategy, and this objective reality, as I have said, sometimes clashes with the economic logic. Therefore, this issue should be analysed carefully; we need to determine what and where to build, and to whom we should sell. After this scrupulous in-depth analysis, we will be in a position to make a decision about the construction of oil refineries, including for the oil pipeline we commissioned yesterday".

"The housing and community utilities sector is an eternal problem for this country. The problem is rooted in the fact that this monopolised market was primarily developed by the bureaucracy, rather than those involved in the economic activity. We know what we must do in this sector. The relevant principles for developing the housing and utilities system were formulated long ago. The sector's modernisation should not always be linked with higher tariffs. First of all, we must create a market, we must get rid of tiny pocket companies monopolising the market of utility services. This is the main and most important condition. Naturally, they are often unable to do this when the enterprise, and housing and community utilities systems themselves, are in a deplorable state. We must support them and help them to attain a level that will yield profits within this sector of the economy. It has great potential for profitable work".

"What does this mean for this region? It means the development of East Siberia and Yakutia. Many of you accompanied me to Vankor and saw that the project entails modern systems, new jobs, new technology, and new infrastructure. We have built not only the ESPO pipeline but also roads, electricity transmission lines and power generating companies along its route. The seven pumping stations are not simple iron boxes but mini-plants complete with the latest technology. We have created 3,000 well-paid jobs for skilled workers".