Rustem Khamitov: "Main reason for production growth is Bashkir companies’ successful adaptation to new economic conditions"

UFA, 15 March 2017. /Bashinform News Agency, Alim Faizov/. "We are doing much to ensure the growth of industrial production index, but we have not expected such results", the Head of Bashkortostan Rustem Khamitov summed up the economic results of the first months of 2017 in his interview with the “Expert-Ural” magazine. “For example, the results of January 2017 to January 2016 amounted to 107.9 percent - an amazing figure even for us. Oil industry, chemistry, timber processing, light industry, food industry - all sectors showed good figures. Last year we finished with an industrial production index of 102.6 percent".

Among one of the reasons for growth in production, the Head of the Republic names successful adaptation of the Bashkir companies to the new economic conditions associated with sanctions and counter-sanctions, both internal and external restrictions on demand.

"Reformatting has taken place by common efforts, and now companies do not experience any difficulties related to sanctions. There are no more than 10-20 percent of top managers convinced that their production can be ensured only by West technologies, the rest are focused on their own forces, import substitution. I cannot say that the adaptation is complete, it's a complicated process, but the figures testify to the fact that the enterprises have adapted. The consumption of electricity and water increased by 10-12 percent in December-January. Thus, the business is working, reaching a pre-crisis level. Export of chemical, machine-building products is growing. It is possible to characterize the situation as stabilizing. Signs of deterioration are not observed. On the contrary, there is a small but constant progress".

The Head of the Republic believes that now it is necessary to think about "how to strengthen the faith of business and society in reliability of the current economic course, in correctness of benchmarks".