This video address was recorded at the Paroc Heat Insulation Materials Plant in the village of Izoplit in the Tver Region on 3 December 2013.
New production lines in Russia amount to new technological culture, a different work culture
Dmitry Medvedev made a new entry on his videoblog: "New production lines in Russia amount to new technological culture, a different work culture".
Text of the recording:
Dmitry Medvedev: Good afternoon. There is a widespread opinion that Russia is strong only in oil and gas, that we haven’t produced anything for a long time, and have just been eating revenues from hydrocarbon exports. However, such statements have nothing to do with reality. Our economy is based on industrial production which is playing a large role in the country.
The end of the year has offered a sound opportunity to speak about the development of industrial production, about what projects began to work this year; all the more so since I have visited some plants and factories myself.
We are now in the Tver Region where a new construction materials plant has launched. It will produce heat-insulating materials, using European technology. Our country is a cold one, and we do need heat for protection. There will be a high demand for the goods of the NLMK-Kaluga Metallurgical Plant, which was put into service in July. I have visited it as well. White pulp production began in Bratsk. This was the finishing stage of one of the industry’s largest projects in the past 30 years – Greater Bratsk. This is one of the world’s most modern timber-processing plants.
The assembly of a new auto – the Gazel Next – has launched in Nizhny Novgorod.
I’m sure that it will be popular with drivers and customers.
I have also been to the Central Institute of Aviation Motors in Lytkarino near Moscow. This unique enterprise produces engines for the Superjet-100 and 5G fighters.
A new nitrogen fertilizer production complex has launched in Cherepovets. I have been there as well. A plant producing modern electric locomotives EP20 has been put into operation in Novocherkassk. The internal combustion engines plant in Kaluga belongs to Folkswagen Group Rus, but employs our workers.
I have visited other enterprises as well. I must admit that this plant and this shop are very different from what we saw only several years ago. This concerns not only new machinery and equipment or repaired walls, but also a new technological culture, a different work culture.
Of course, new production means modern jobs in comfortable conditions that allow people to work better. It is low labour productivity that seriously slows our economic development.
We plan to create and upgrade 25 million modern jobs up to 2020 and, most importantly, to boost labour productivity by 50% over the next five years. The launching of every industrial plant is a major step towards this ambitious goal.
The Government’s task is to increase the number of new production lines. We began to modernise the economy with production innovations five years ago with this aim in view. We are improving our industrial policy despite the serious impact of global economic problems.
We are opening new production lines that meet all modern environmental requirements. Sometimes we replace old enterprises that were shut down because their products were not interesting to consumers. The main point is that people are prepared to work in these places and we are resolving the problems of single-industry towns and settlements. This is also very important.
We are resolving environmental tasks as well. For the most part in 2013, new enterprises have launched in industrial production and the food industry, including meat and dairy factories, canneries, and in construction, mining, metallurgy, and car production. Incidentally, during the first half of the year, the reported investments in new production lines were probably even a bit higher than in 2012 despite the global economic and financial crisis.
The number of new production lines remains the same. Not only we, but also authoritative international organisations notice changes for the better. The World Bank increased Russia’s rating in Doing Business by 20 spots. Of course, business is always risky, but new enterprises and jobs amount to development, and we badly need it in this country. The Government will always support the initiative of investors and individuals who are prepared to open a business.
