Russian industrial cos should have preferences over foreign competitors, including those seeking to return to country - Putin
MOSCOW. Feb 21 (Interfax) - Russian industrial companies should receive preferences in the domestic market compared to their foreign competitors, including those seeking to return after leaving the country, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
However, these privileges must comply with the World Trade Organization (WTO)'s regulations, he said.
"I ask the government to consider how we can regulate the interaction between our enterprises and those of our competitors in order to provide certain advantages to national manufacturers," Putin said during a plenary session of the Future Technologies Forum.
"Yes, within the framework of the WTO, but nonetheless, difficulties have been created for us, and we can regulate the return of those who want to come back accordingly, while creating and maintaining advantages for our own manufacturers," he said.
This should be done "delicately and carefully," he said. Putin said he has discussed the issue with First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov.
The previous day, Manturov told reporters that the system of preferences for domestic manufacturers, which has developed in Russia during the period of sanctions pressure, will remain in place if foreign companies return to the Russian market.
"During the time when sanctions packages were introduced one after another, the system of preferences in public procurement and support measures evolved significantly. Today, in the most critical industries for our technological sovereignty, domestic manufacturers and producers from the EAEU [Eurasian Economic Union] have absolute priority. For joint projects with foreign companies, conditions have been established regarding localization, technology transfer and control over projects by Russian participants. We will not deviate from these principles, and foreign companies will have to take this reality into account," Manturov's press service quoted him as saying.
