OREANDA-NEWS. May 18, 2012. Vladimir Putin visited the institute’s production facilities, saw the latest developments from Russia’s defence industry, and held a meeting On Russian Technologies (Rostekhnologii) State Corporation’s Performance and Outlook.

Central Research Institute Cyclone is part of Rostekhnologii State Corporation and focuses on the design and production of optical electronics.

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PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA VLADIMIR PUTIN: Good afternoon, colleagues,

Today we will analyse the results of one of our biggest state corporations, Rostekhnologii. We will discuss the development plans, above all in the context of our strategic economic modernisation objectives, and the efforts to strengthen our country’s industrial and defence capabilities.

These were among the top priorities we set when the corporation was established. We had to concentrate resources and consolidate assets in order to develop our economy’s high-technology sectors. Let me remind you that we did not nationalise anything, but simply brought together state assets that were in various places and situations, generally lamentable situations, in order to consolidate them and get them back into the needed condition. As for what to do with them from here, I will speak about this later.

We had to make real advances in the critically important areas that guarantee the foundations of our country’s technological independence. This was why we decided to bring these assets under one roof, as I said, unite strategic assets within Rostekhnologii: state-owned industrial and research and development companies working in a broad range of fields, and carry out a thorough inventory of our high-tech and industrial assets.  

Overall, these tasks have been fulfilled. We fell far short of completing everything that was planned, and there has been criticism from the expert community, justified criticism, I might add, but we have accomplished much nevertheless.

A total of 25 holdings were established within the state corporation, including 19 in the defence industry. Of the holdings created, 4 are in the aviation industry, 5 in ammunition and special chemicals, 4 in conventional weapons, 6 in radio-electronics, and 6 in civilian sectors.

The companies of the corporation employ a total of around 800,000 people. In terms of its workforce and the number of enterprises involved, the corporation can be likened to an entire production sector.

Let me add that the decision to establish this powerful corporation proved its effectiveness during the crisis period. Working together with the authorities, the corporation managed to ensure that stable work continued at its enterprises, keep their workforces together, and continue development programmes, which is very important. In this respect, I note your work in the automotive industry on modernising the sector’s key enterprises such as AvtoVAZ and KamAZ.