President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Colleagues, friends,
It is a great pleasure to be here and to take part in the work of the Congress of the Union of Machine Engineers of Russia.
It is one of our country’s largest sectoral associations, comprising such leading, backbone, and important companies as Rostec, Roscosmos, United Aircraft Corporation, Almaz-Antey, Uralvagonzavod, AvtoVAZ, and many other enterprises where numerous teams of specialists – true professionals in their field – are employed.
Naturally, in modern life and the contemporary economy, everything is important. Services are important, as are financial operations and securities; nevertheless, it is a pleasure to deal with people who are engaged in tangible work.
Mr Chemezov has just said that we have many challenges and complicated issues that need to be resolved collectively. After all, this is the 10th anniversary congress, so I will not dwell on sombre matters – I will not speak of the key rate, nor of the need for long-term capital and the strengthening of the ruble. We meet regularly with many of you; all of this is known, and we discuss these matters with the Government and with the Central Bank – you are fully apprised of the situation. I will note that, despite all the difficulties, in recent years domestic machine engineers have been operating in challenging conditions, including the severance of ties with certain foreign counterparties and external pressure from unfriendly countries.
Nonetheless, under these circumstances, Russian companies, their managers and employees have shown flexibility and the ability to apply non-standard approaches. By reconfiguring logistics chains, replacing a number of components, and developing their own original scientific and technological solutions, they have not only maintained steady operations but also, in numerous instances, secured new positions in both domestic and foreign markets. They implement development programmes, invest in fundamental research and the strengthening of human resources.
Despite all the problems that we are all aware of and that I have just touched upon in passing, the results are substantial. By the end of last year, the output of the Russian manufacturing industry was almost 25 percent higher than in 2021.
The reason for my emphasising this is that it was after 2021, in 2022, that all the aforementioned challenges emerged.
Overall, industrial production in Russia in 2025 grew 12 percent higher than in 2021.
What does this mean? First, this demonstrates that our industry, science, and education possess tremendous potential. This provides a strong foundation for our sovereign development, high-quality economic growth, the creation of a supply-side economy and modern jobs, the strengthening of the country’s defence capabilities, and the expansion of high-tech exports.
Second, our strategic approach – the decision we made not long ago – is proving effective: not to imitate others, but to shape market trends ourselves by developing new types of competitive products. This includes the production of high-quality aircraft, railway, agricultural, and other machinery, as well as the development and rapid deployment of industrial robots, digital platforms, autonomous systems, and artificial intelligence technologies. Projects designed to stimulate demand for these products have already been launched and will continue to expand. We will undoubtedly continue to support them.
I know that many believed that the tools proposed by the Government might prove insufficient. However, these tools do exist, and many people, including those present here today, are already using them quite successfully.
At the same time, I want to emphasise once again that, while strengthening our technological sovereignty, we do not intend to isolate ourselves. On the contrary, we seek to establish and expand mutually beneficial partnerships with other countries and support initiatives by foreign partners that incorporate Russian machinery, equipment, and technological platforms. Combining the intellectual and resource potential of different countries, based on mutual respect for one another’s interests, will create additional opportunities for domestic research institutions, industrial enterprises, and even the service sector, which I have already mentioned.
At the same time, life itself – real-world developments and the challenges we have faced – have confirmed the validity of the principle that we need to independently produce critically important goods. We must possess our own “technological keys” to production processes that are essential to the economy, to improving the quality of life, and safeguarding the country’s security.
In this regard, I would like to express special thanks to the staff of the defence industry complex, which has already been mentioned today. You are confidently fulfilling the state defence order, which has grown considerably since the beginning of the special military operation, while looking to the future and launching the batch production of modern military equipment created on the basis of our combat experience. In short, you are doing everything to ensure stable supplies for our Armed Forces.
I would like to remind you that during last year’s St Petersburg International Economic Forum we formulated certain principles for strengthening our sovereignty in the area of defence and security. These include maximally broad implementation of the best technological and organisational innovations, which implies a regular analysis of not only national but also best foreign practices.
Another key principle is enhancing the speed of decision-making, implementation and production, which has been a root problem. I believe it would be no exaggeration to say that this has been going on for centuries, but we do need to pay special attention to it. The speed of decision-making and implementation is extremely important. We have no right to lag behind our partners and rivals in this regard.
The timeframe from an idea to the end product must be dramatically reduced, as it is happening in many civilian sectors. I would like to repeat that we must go beyond the formal division of companies into the defence industry complex and the civilian segment, and conventional restrictions that are hindering a quick implementation of effective solutions in production.
I am confident that our young people, who we rightly regard as our heroes, the veterans of the special military operation will help implement these principles in practice. They are people with a wealth of experience who can quickly find solutions to problems, are well-versed in the tactics of using weapons in combat conditions, and know what their comrades on the contact line need.
I am asking the Government, the concerned ministries and the heads of companies to actively assist the recruitment of such people to the national defence complex and other industrial sectors. We need to take practical efforts towards this end, expanding professional and on-site training and employment programmes. Our young people are fighting well, but we must support them and help identify talented people. I regularly meet with them. Trust me, there are many talented, modern and intelligent people among them. We must look for, identify and help them.
I would particularly like to thank our domestic enterprises and the Union of Machine Engineers, as Mr Chemezov just mentioned, for their humanitarian support for our soldiers, and also for their assistance to residents in the border regions who find themselves in difficult circumstances. Such effective, hands-on engagement with the lives of individuals, regions and the country as a whole deserves immense respect, recognition and encouragement.
And one more thing. The Union of Machine Engineers brings together more than 30 industry-specific organisations involving company executives, government representatives, members of the research and financial communities, and industry experts. Their proposals and recommendations are actively sought when it comes to addressing strategic issues of the development of our industry, from improving the regulatory framework and the technological re-equipment of enterprises, to supporting them in the face of external pressure and sanctions, and, of course, tackling staffing challenges.
I understand that the Union of Machine Engineers, in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Science, has developed a comprehensive system for training engineering personnel. It covers every stage of a specialist’s development, from careers guidance and talent spotting, through training and support, to hiring. Over the past five years, around four million school and university students, and young engineers have taken part in these programmes.
This work must certainly continue and expand, because it is focused on the future – on fostering a generation with a modern, innovative engineering mindset. These are the specialists who will be responsible for solving our country’s most pressing technological development challenges. They will make mechanical engineering enterprises – and indeed the whole of Russian industry – stronger, more resilient and more efficient.
Let me wish you every success. I am aware, and I want to stress this again, of the difficulties you face, and I know that you are overcoming them. You are doing so thanks to your organisational talent, your determination, your focus on the final result. And you are succeeding.
Thank you. I wish you all the very best in your work.