Translated material
Get into the back
Vladimir Putin promised to think about expanding the recycling program
The Russian government is considering the possibility of launching a truck recycling program in exchange for a certificate for the purchase of new ones, similar to the already existing program for passenger cars. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin spoke about this yesterday at the opening of the first international forum “Technologies in Mechanical Engineering” in Zhukovsky near Moscow. The main event of the forum for the general public is considered to be a grandiose show of “flying” tanks, but it is scheduled for tomorrow. Yesterday it was shown only to VIP visitors, but they seemed to be focused mainly on peaceful topics, namely issues of investment and technology exchange, especially in the automotive industry.The Prime Minister routinely advertised all the well-known projects, including the Sukhoi Super Jet and the Russian aviation industry as a whole, and also made an understandable nod to his Ukrainian colleagues, meaning “joint work to promote the Antonov family of aircraft.” Vladimir Putin recalled Russian long-term programs in the field of nuclear engineering, shipbuilding, production of complex marine equipment and spacecraft. The head of government did not forget to lure foreign investors: “We need effective models of technological and industrial cooperation, attracting promising foreign partners who can bring new ideas and their experience in organizing high-tech production.”
KamAZ General Director Sergei Kogogin appealed to the Prime Minister with a request to extend the passenger car recycling program to also include old trucks. The prime minister replied that this issue was being discussed in the government: “We see how effective the method of supporting mechanical engineering through the purchase of used passenger cars has proven to be. I don’t rule out that we will do this with regard to used trucks, but I can’t promise that we will definitely do this.”
Sergei Chemezov, head of the Russian Technologies state corporation, which owns a quarter of the shares of AvtoVAZ and 37.8% of KamAZ, believes that the program for old trucks could start as early as 2011, but first the Ministry of Finance must calculate the financial component.
Earlier, the idea of a recycling program for trucks and buses was expressed by the Minister of Industry and Trade Viktor Khristenko. This is fully consistent with the concept of development of the domestic automobile industry created by his department, which implies the introduction of a maximum period of commercial operation of any vehicles. It is believed that the Russian truck fleet is the oldest compared to other types of wheeled vehicles and numbers about 5 million units, more than half of which are over ten years old.
Having “hung in the air” the idea of cargo recycling, the Prime Minister incendiary commented on the speeches of representatives of companies operating in Russia. Having heard the well-established expression “technology transfer” in the speech of Frank Schauf, head of the Association of European Businesses in Russia, the Russian Prime Minister somewhat aggressively clarified: “What kind of strange formulation is this? In the world in which we live, no one gives anything for nothing, except perhaps humanitarian aid. Modern technology is a commodity, we are ready to pay for it. We are not going to steal a piece of technology from the master's kitchen, and then, slurping, eat it under the blanket or pass it on somewhere. Are there any casualties during technology transfer? Show me who stole what.”
In response to the optimistic speech of the director of Renault in Russia, Christian Esteve, the head of government unexpectedly recalled how “Renault entered AvtoVAZ, paying a decent amount, and then the market collapsed, as we say, the company “got in.” The Russian government did not demand additional investments, but, on the contrary, provided a loan to support the automaker.” It is worth clarifying that the French will still have to shell out $240 million so that their share (25%) is not eroded during the additional issue, but Renault allowed them to invest in technology. Vladimir Putin hinted that the Russian side would not mind if the partners decide to increase their share: “You can expand your package, we can even exchange our assets with the French government (the French Republic owns 15% in Renault - Ed. ). But we don’t push for anything, we don’t insist on anything.”
A source in the Russian Technologies company (also 25% of AvtoVAZ) clarified that such a proposal was not officially made. It is assumed that in the exchange of assets between the governments of France and Russia, we can talk about a maximum of 2-3% in Renault, but even with this formulation of the question, such a transaction seems very doubtful. “I don’t see the French government’s interest in having a stake in AvtoVAZ,” the source noted.
At the end of the plenary session, Vladimir Putin decided to philosophically affirm the superiority of man over technology: “And a human head can be modeled, but human content cannot yet be put into it.” Having said this, the head of government went on a tour of the exhibition, accompanied by Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who was advised to ask the price of the “flying” T-90 tank.