On September 26, General Director of ITI Vladimir Salamatov took part in the session titled "State Mechanisms for Export Support" at the II Interregional Export Forum in Perm.
The President's Executive Order No 204 dated May 7, 2018 "On National Goals and Strategic Objectives of the Russian Federation through to 2024" sets an objective of augmenting exports in the agricultural sector up to USD 45 bn annually. Irina Lavrentyeva, Director of the Department of Information Policy and Special Projects of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation, points out that this target used to deter exporters but now they are willing to work towards it and moreover, they know perfectly well what they need for this.
"Many people have transformed their mentality. The psychology has truly changed. We no longer think in terms like 'we won't be able to reach this target'. Increasingly often now, we think in terms like 'what can we do to reach this target and move beyond it?'" Irina Lavrentyeva said.
The systematic approach to introducing measures and mechanisms of state support for exports is an effective government policy towards businesses and one of the main factors in stimulating foreign trade and sustaining steady economic growth. However, it is expected that non-financial measures of state support will produce a comparable or an even more substantial effect.
"As a matter of fact, we subsidize as little as ten percent of total exports that we currently have in the Russian Federation, and we don't rely on financial support very much. Rather, we count on some non-financial support measures like removing barriers to trade and helping producers win new markets," Andrey Tsemahovich, Head of the Department of Foreign Trade Regulation and Export Support of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, said.
In the context of the high competition on global markets, the work on increasing the effectiveness of state support of exports assumes special importance, and it should be noted that this work must start at the very beginning – the educational system.
"People are interested in export growth, they do a lot, and they are willing to learn. Granted, it's great to have money, but there are other ways to support exports which are equally important. For instance, the REC has a special department that works with one of our leading universities to provide education programs, and I think that it's a very interesting idea because we must develop the curriculum in line with the challenges that we face," Vladimir Salamatov, General Director of ITI, said.
See live broadcast of the discussion at the official website of the Forum.