The Tasks Have Been Set — Mission Impossible

First Deputy Prime Minister Manturov held a meeting on the development of the Russian light industry. The event was attended by the head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Alikhanov, the chairmen of the State Duma committees on industry and trade — Gutenev, and on economic policy — Topilin, representatives of the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Economic Development, as well as key manufacturers and industry organizations.

Participants of the meeting discussed the current state and prospects for the development of the industry. It was noted that today, the share of Russian products in the domestic light industry market is about 45%. Issues related to deepening localization and combating counterfeit products were considered. Manturov identified among the key priorities the reduction of costs and increasing labor productivity in enterprises through automation and the integration of industrial robots into production.

Here are the tasks set in a separate industry. And not for the first time, and not for the first year. However, the share of domestic products in the domestic market (when well-known foreign brands have largely left) is at the level of 45%. And even then, they probably counted those from “unfriendly countries” who changed their signage to continue working in our market. Why so little? Four years have passed. Moreover, light industry is always a quick return for business. It’s not about raising machine building.

What’s the deal? The most interesting thing is that the answer is clear to everyone: the monetary-credit policy of the Central Bank, the tax policy of the Ministry of Finance, state policy allowing the arbitrariness of natural monopolies. All this makes the cost of any final product uncompetitive, and business unprofitable. Even in light industry. What to say about the production of means of production…

Well, you have to agree, how can you seriously set the task of increasing labor productivity in enterprises through automation and the integration of industrial robots into production, when ruble investments in the country are essentially prohibited?