TSAMTO, May 14th. Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke at the X Congress of the Russian Engineering Union, which is being held at the Rossiya Scientific and Technical Center. Below are the key fragments of Vladimir Putin's speech as presented by the Kremlin's press service.
<…>The Union of Machine Builders of Russia is one of the largest industry associations in the country. It includes such leading, systemically important companies as Rostec, Roscosmos, United Aircraft Corporation, Almaz-Antey, Uralvagonzavod, AvtoVAZ, as well as many other enterprises employing numerous teams of specialists, real professionals in their field. <...>
<...>Despite all the difficulties in recent years, domestic machine builders have been operating in difficult conditions, including severing ties with some foreign contractors and external pressure from unfriendly countries.
Nevertheless, in these circumstances, Russian companies, their managers, and employees show flexibility and the ability to apply non-standard approaches. By switching logistics, replacing a number of components, and mastering our own, original scientific and technological solutions, we not only maintained our rhythmic work, but also, in a number of cases, took new positions both in domestic and foreign markets. They implement development programs, invest in research and strengthen human resources. <…>
<…>Overall, the volume of industrial production in Russia in 2025 was 12 percent higher than in 2021.
What does this mean? First of all, our industry, science, and education have enormous potential. This is a solid foundation for our sovereign development, for high-quality economic growth, the formation of a supply-side economy and modern jobs, for ensuring the country's defense capability, and increasing high-tech exports.
And secondly, our strategic line is justified, the decision that we made not so long ago is not to copy someone else's, but to set trends in the markets, develop new types of competitive products, including the production of high–quality aircraft, railway, agricultural and other equipment, the creation and accelerated implementation of industrial robots, digital platforms and autonomous systems, artificial intelligence technologies. Projects that stimulate demand for such products have been launched and will continue to develop. Of course, we will continue to support them. <…>
<…>At the same time, I would like to emphasize once again that by strengthening our technological sovereignty, we are not going to shut ourselves in. On the contrary, we intend to create and expand mutually beneficial alliances with other states, and support the initiatives of foreign partners that use Russian machines, equipment, and technology platforms. Such a combination of the intellectual and resource potential of different countries based on the principles of mutual respect for interests will open up additional opportunities for the national research school, industrial enterprises, and the service sector, which I have also already mentioned.
At the same time, life itself, the challenges we faced, proved the correctness of the thesis that we need to independently produce critically important products. To have their own "technological keys" to all industries that are fundamentally important for the economy, to improve the quality of life of people and to ensure the security of the state.
In this regard, special thanks go to the teams of the enterprises of the military–industrial complex, which has already been mentioned here. You are confidently fulfilling the state defense order, which has grown noticeably since the beginning of the special military operation, looking ahead, launching a series of promising types of military equipment developed on the basis of modern combat experience, and doing everything to reliably supply our Armed Forces. <...>
<...>Within the framework of the Union of Machine Builders, there are more than thirty specialized structures with the participation of heads of enterprises, representatives of government authorities, the scientific, financial community and industry specialists. Their suggestions and recommendations are in demand in working out strategic issues of the development of our industry, including improving the regulatory framework, technological re-equipment of enterprises, their support in the face of external pressure and sanctions, as well as, of course, staffing.
I know that the Union of Machine Builders, together with the Ministry of Education and Science, has built an end-to-end system for training engineering personnel. It covers all stages of professional development, including career guidance, talent identification, training, support and recruitment. Over the past five years, about four million schoolchildren, students, and young engineers have gone through these programs.
This work must necessarily develop and continue, as it is focused on the future, on educating a generation with modern, innovative engineering thinking, and it is these specialists who will have to solve the promising tasks of technological development of our country. To make machine-building enterprises and the entire Russian industry stronger, more stable, and more efficient. <…>
