The Minister of Industry and Trade spoke on efforts to develop the national industry and boost its competitiveness.
In particular, Mr Manturov mentioned that in 2012, 44 regions saw growth in industrial production higher than the national average, and in some 20 regions, it increased by 1%-3% during the year. According to the Minister, in the first four months of this year the country’s processing industry showed 1.2% growth as compared to the corresponding period last year, and a 3% increase is expected by the end of 2013. Last year’s investments into the processing industry were increased in 61 regions. The number of advanced technologies developed in Russia has grown by 16%, with St Petersburg becoming the leader in this area for the second year in a row.
The Ministry’s targeted efforts to support various sectors of the national industry include restructured subsidiary tools and government regulation methods not prohibited by international rules, Mr Manturov emphasised.
A high share of government procurement in medicine provision (35%) and the efficient implementation of the federal targeted programme have led to good indicators of import substitution in the pharmaceutical sector. In 2012, he said, the share of domestically produced medicines on the list of life-saving and strategically important medications has reached the target level of 63%. The resolution on the list of goods that have Russian analogues and the imports of which will be restricted as regards state procurement, is at its final coordination stage.
Modernisation of the national standartisation system is a major direction in adapting to WTO standards, Mr Manturov said. The law On Standartisation, which has been submitted to the Government for consideration, will allow for introducing international standards in law enforcement practices to provide recognition of the results of assessing the conformity of Russian goods to global standards, which will lead to greater competitiveness of Russian manufacturers on the world market and will increase the effects of the country’s WTO accession.
Source: Ministry of Industry and Trade
