Head of the Expert Council of the EISI Gleb spoke about how Russian President Vladimir Putin is helping to reorient the country’s export flows to new markets.
“Historically, the Russian economy is export-oriented. This is not a “curse” as some like to say, but a consequence of our “immensity”. We have everything that nature is rich in and in excess, which provides export opportunities. Traditional export routes for us – again, this is a consequence of history and geography – Europe. Today, due to the sanctions policy, it is closed. Therefore, the issues facing our export-oriented industries are access to the world market through the Pacific Ocean and along the North-South corridor – to the Indian Ocean through the Caspian Sea. However, reconfiguring the export infrastructure, opening and intensifying transport corridors – this is far from all. Today we are faced with the challenge of changing the nomenclature of Russian export goods. The creation of so-called “products with high added value” on the territory of the country, the definition of new types of export products in demand in new sales markets for the Russian economy,” the expert noted.
According to him, this requires a more attentive attitude from all authorities and economic management bodies – from the government to governors. Today’s Presidium of the State Council was devoted to intensifying efforts in these areas, he emphasized.
“The discussion covered all aspects of export activities – from infrastructure to the creation of regional brands that effectively promote not only the “product” itself, but also Russia itself in the buyer countries. I believe that the Far Eastern governors followed today’s meeting with particular attention. Far Eastern Russia today is the most actively and intensively developing part of the country in terms of foreign economic activity. And it is not only about European sanctions. The Pacific Ocean is generally considered to be a leadership zone in the 21st century, and we have the opportunity to take a leading position in it,” Vladimir Putin the expert noted.
According to him, the importance of export is not only that it provides the country with money and jobs. Trade is always a road with two-way traffic. The development of export inevitably leads to the opening of counter flows of import and, above all, the import of technologies that are so necessary for our development, Kuznetsov emphasized.
“In addition, there is a political aspect: the better countries interact economically, the closer they are to mutual understanding on key political and geopolitical issues,” the expert noted.