“We see the advancement of the fishing industry as one of our key priorities. Despite the federal budget limits, we've decided to maintain spending on the federal targeted programme in the industry at the original level (over 32 billion roubles) and to extend (the programme) for one more year, through 2014. As you know, we subsidize loans taken out by enterprises to build and upgrade vessels as well as to develop processing and storage infrastructure for the fishing industry. Funds are also being spent to set up special fish markets in Russian regions. By the way, it would be interesting to hear from you today about where the first such markets are going to appear. The industry's top management has its own plans for this.”
"I am convinced that the Russian steel industry has everything it needs to become one of the world leaders in effective production and management, energy efficiency and environmental friendliness quite soon… Much remains to be done. You know it better than anyone else, because your production facility still lags behind its competitors in labour efficiency and consumes 15% to 20% more electricity. All this, of course, is a legacy of the past, a legacy that is difficult to get rid of. You can't undo everything in one fell swoop, but we are moving in the right direction. We need to start manufacturing the products where we still rely on imports."
“The space rocket field has been one of the state's priorities since its inception. Space has always occupied a special place for us, and I hope it will continue to do so. And so, despite the difficulties we face because of the downturn, the space sector received all the money originally allocated, in accordance with the approved programmes. Moreover, last year we provided government support for companies in this sector that were in a difficult situation - funds were provided to increase companies' authorised capital, interest rates on favourable loans were subsidised and government guarantees were issued... We expect investments in the domestic space industry will yield considerable benefits, serving as a catalyst for growth in related manufacturing sectors, which will in turn help resolve many socio-economic problems.”
"We have competitive solutions in the aviation industry. The United Aircraft Corporation plans to triple its production of civil aircraft between 2011 and 2013, which marks a transition from producing to order to mass production. In order to implement these large-scale plans, we will have to modernise aircraft plants. We either have or are designing similar development projects in other industries as well."
“Today geological exploration is a promising and attractive enterprise, where each rouble invested by the government attracts 10 roubles of private investment. In recent years proven reserves of strategic reserves, including oil, gas, gold and copper, have grown faster than the amount of these resources produced each year. This shows that we've resolved the problem we faced several years ago when we produced more than we developed, which caused certain problems and concerns. Today we can report that we have resolved the priority issues for exploration in this field.”
“Approving the first single-industry city support projects is another major item on our agenda. This is our priority not only for 2010, but also going forward, because both current problems and matters pertaining to the overhaul of the national economy are closely intertwined on this issue. We are planning to allocate 27 billion roubles from the federal budget for the development of single-industry cities in 2010. These funds are aimed at implementing infrastructure projects that will attract business and help create new, modern production lines, at supporting small and medium-sized businesses and at improving conditions in problematic cities. In addition, the regional authorities, municipalities, management teams of major enterprises and interested investors must all implement their own measures in singe-industry cities. As we have agreed, support will primarily be rendered to those single-industry cities that have submitted adequate and realistic programmes”.
“To create a favourable investment climate for this project, we exempted the developers of the Caspian fields from the mineral extraction tax. Companies have also raised the issue of reducing import duties. We'll think about it. I've already issued corresponding directives to government agencies, including the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Economic Development and the Ministry of Energy. We must calculate the costs and benefits of these projects. But I'm not ruling this out. Either way, we'll support projects of this kind. As far as support instruments and mechanisms, we need to consult with you and decide together.”
“We tried to support the auto industry which was hardest hit in Russia and probably in the world. Overall, the government will purchase an additional 100 billion roubles worth of domestic vehicles in 2009 and 2010, including cars, trucks, buses and other vehicles for federal and municipal services. Moreover, when I talked to company executives, many said flatly that their companies would have long gone out of business without this programme. Production would have been halted and people fired.”
“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".
"As for the ESPO pipeline, it is a strategic project because it will allow us to diversify our export risks. It is difficult to make predictions in the ever changing global economy. Our exports will become more reliable, if we get an opportunity, or already have an opportunity, to shift some of our exports away from the European markets when the situation there is unfavourable or if economic cooperation is unnecessarily politicised".
"High-tech sectors. Aircraft manufacturing and shipbuilding are considered high-tech sectors of industry, but as you know we also intend to build a space centre here. It will be a challenging and expensive project, but it will be expedient in Russia with its vast territory. We will allocate modest funds for its initial development. The project is to be implemented not in the Primorye Territory but in the Amursk Region. These plans will be realised in stages".
