MOSCOW, RUSSIA - International business forum “The competitiveness of the Russian business in international markets” organized by the WTC Moscow, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation and “Kommersant” PH took place in the World Trade Center Moscow. The event brought together public officials, regulating authorities, representatives of the CCI and business associations. 

The forum was moderated by Vladimir Salamatov, Director General of the World Trade Center Moscow, and Dmitry Butrin, Deputy Editor of the Economic Policy of “Kommersant” PH. During panel sessions, the following key issues were discussed: means of support of domestic producers in the face of sanctions; correlation of the import substitution with the competitive growth of the Russian production; methods for increasing the share of small and medium-sized businesses in Russia's exports and the development of their export potential.

Panelists agreed that the import substitution is inextricably linked with the competitiveness of domestic production and exports. 

“Import substitution is the necessity caused not only by the sanctions, but also by an unacceptably large percentage that imported goods take in the consumption in Russia”, – said Yevgeny Primakov, member of the Academy of Science. 

“In order to be competitive in the world trade, one has to be competitive within the domestic market”, – supported Alexey Mordashov, Director General of “Severstal”.

“The only way producers have is to see the market as an international arena. If one wants to trade in Russia, one has to produce a product that will be in demand anywhere in the world, even in countries with the highest standards. Businesses have to take that there is no other way anymore,” – noted Vladimir Salamatov.

Andrey Klepach, Member of the Board of Vnesheconombank, explained that to make a serious technological breakthrough that would at least create an alternative, if not completely meet the need for imports, it is necessary to solve the problem of the competitiveness in the next few years. However, such a breakthrough has to be supported by a solid set of measures in the economic policy. The Government must get the State programs implementation under control; the Central Bank “must take real steps in order to provide enterprises with “long-term money”, and the enterprises themselves should reduce expenses by improving the management, optimization of their facilities and staff. 

“In fact, we need a certain revolution in management”, – marked Andrey Klepach. Overall, he said that “"if we want to be competitive, we must be bold and should carry out an aggressive economic policy”.

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