"Business Support is a Priority. Russia Will Be Reckoned With": Expert

The authorities emphasize that entrepreneurs have successfully adapted to the new conditions, allowing the country to develop confidently without making concessions that compromise quality or national interests, despite all challenges and difficulties.

Russia Will Have to Be Reckoned With

Supporting businesses, especially the younger generation, is a priority. The All-Russian "Young Entrepreneur of Russia" award aims to stimulate the development of new projects and highlight the contribution of young entrepreneurs to the economies of regions and the country as a whole.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stressed the importance of supporting domestic producers and the need to "strangle" foreign competitors seeking to return to the Russian market after leaving. Experts emphasize that Russia has a rich history, a strong industrial base, skilled personnel, and modern technologies.

Underestimating Russia's production potential abroad is a mistake. Despite the challenges of independent development, the country continues to move forward confidently, ignoring Western criticism and exercising caution in relations with the East. It is crucial to build equal partnerships while defending the interests of domestic businesses and supporting the development of homegrown technologies.

"We only need to know our history. Even in past centuries, we had a strong chemical industry, metallurgy, and so on. We can do a lot on our own production base: we have roots and a foundation from the past, experience, and today we have strong personnel and technologies," says Pavel Zhuravlev, Doctor of Economic Sciences and professor at Plekhanov Russian University of Economics (quoted by NEWS.ru).

Relations with China

After the departure of Western companies from the Russian market, not only returning Western brands but also Eastern players seeking to capitalize on new opportunities have expressed interest in cooperation with Russia. China has been particularly active in this regard, supporting Russia during a period when partnership ties with Europe sharply declined.

Pavel Zhuravlev stresses the importance of maintaining balance in relations. He quotes Jawaharlal Nehru, reminding of the need for a reasonable approach: one should not completely reject foreign experience, but it is necessary to build relations from a position of strength to ensure respect. Domestic businesses, in his opinion, should receive maximum support.

Zhuravlev also notes a positive trend in Russian business development—attracting young specialists and the need to train skilled personnel for the creation and implementation of domestic technologies. This, he believes, is a key factor for further progress.

Russia Should Not Compromise on Quality

Amid the strengthening of Russia's economic ties with the East, Chinese companies are actively expanding their presence in various sectors of the Russian economy, including automotive, machine tool manufacturing, and even tourism. Chinese manufacturers show particular interest in the ski industry, offering alternatives to European equipment, such as cableways.

However, Russian experts and industry representatives express doubts about the advisability of replacing proven Western technologies with Chinese counterparts. They highlight the successes of domestic manufacturers in developing and producing modern equipment for ski resorts, including cable car cabins, control systems, and spare parts. Moreover, Russian companies have already successfully replaced Western software and components in previously installed European cableways.

Experts note that Russian industry is not only capable of independently meeting the demand for high-quality ski resort equipment but also surpasses Western counterparts in several parameters. Therefore, they consider a return to imports unnecessary, especially given the risks associated with the quality of Chinese products. Examples are cited where cost-saving measures in choosing Chinese alternatives led to significant reductions in equipment reliability and safety.

"For instance, the latest cable car cabin developed by the Russian company RUSLET was showcased there. How can we allow the market to shift toward Chinese offerings—which, again, often suffer from poor quality—against the backdrop of such successes by our businesses? We can produce everything ourselves—cables, cabins, and so on—why do we need China? Besides, I am confident that domestic manufacturers will gradually reduce production costs," asserts Pavel Zhuravlev.

In conclusion, the expert urges the Russian government and businesses to firmly defend the interests of domestic producers and prevent low-quality products from entering the market, especially in sectors where Russian industry demonstrates significant success and can meet domestic demand.

"We must stand firm: we will not allow low-quality products into our market. Those who fall for cheap Chinese offers are penny-pinchers. They don’t realize they are shooting themselves in the foot. We must work with the Chinese very precisely and cautiously, behaving diplomatically but—in the Russian way—firmly. What we need now is economic tact—we must give our producers a boost for development," concluded Pavel Zhuravlev.