Delovaya Rossiya Forum

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Colleagues, good afternoon.

We met with Mr Repik quite recently, and he suggested convening a meeting in a much broader format. While he generally outlined the issues that concern the business community today, he proposed discussing them in this extended format and exchanging views on what is happening in our economy today, what is a matter of concern for representatives of the business community, what worries them, and what the Government should pay attention to.

As is well known, the history of Delovaya Rossiya began 25 years ago, in mid-October, and it has grown into one of the leading and most authoritative business associations in our country. I congratulate the members of Delovaya Rossiya and the executives and owners of enterprises, on this anniversary.

Over the past quarter-century, your organisation has brought together active, dynamic and rapidly growing businesses in virtually all sectors. Moreover, at the very beginning, at the turn of the century, the companies that became members of Delovaya Rossiya were those created almost entirely from scratch or engaged in supplying imported products to the domestic market.

Times have changed, however, and the members of the association have now grown into genuine leaders of our economy, occupying leading positions, including in the high-technology sector, in the sector of non-commodity exports, and are actively engaged in global cooperative chains and projects. Furthermore, some companies have, in effect, shaped entire areas of domestic industry and the services sector, including the development of autonomous and unmanned systems, robotics, key elements of the platform economy, and so forth.

Delovaya Rossiya safeguards the interests of businesses operating in virtually every region of the Russian Federation. Colleagues from the regions, including from our historical, reunited territories of Donbass and Novorossiya, are also taking part in today's meeting via video link.

Colleagues, if you have any questions or requests related to the specifics of your work in what are, for the time being, difficult conditions - please, without hesitation, feel free to raise them, and we will try, together with our colleagues, to address them. When I say "colleagues," I am referring to both the Presidential Executive Office and representatives of the Government of the Russian Federation, who are also taking part in our meeting today.

It is crucial that Delovaya Rossiya's extensive geographic reach, and its consideration for the needs of entrepreneurs across sectors and industries, help foster substantive dialogue between the business community and the state at every level: from federal ministries and agencies to the regions - on the ground.

At the heart of this dialogue lies not merely a discussion of the issues facing domestic companies, but a focus on results - specifically, the outcomes of our joint efforts. We consistently prioritise the collaborative development of the most effective solutions, grounded in day-to-day business practice and in objective market challenges and trends. Naturally, with your assistance, we also regularly analyse the regulatory framework to identify ways to amend, improve and fine-tune it. In other words, Russian business leaders and entrepreneurs are not only growing and reaching new milestones themselves; they are also taking responsibility for consolidating and articulating the business community's needs, and helping to shape the rules of engagement that the dynamic, steady development of the entire national economy requires.

For instance, the National Business Initiative was launched 15 years ago at a Delovaya Rossiya congress. Prompted by the business community, we began systematically reducing the administrative burden on business, eliminating excessive regulation and simplifying reporting procedures and the process of obtaining all sorts of permits. We also introduced a system allowing entrepreneurs themselves to assess the impact of specific regulations and laws on their operations.

Today, Delovaya Rossiya is actively involved in developing a national model for creating the right conditions for doing business and fostering a favourable and competitive business climate. In cooperation with the heads of Russia's regions, it also coordinates the launch and implementation of investment standards throughout the country.

This is especially important as Russia seeks to launch a new investment cycle, increasing investment in innovative businesses and projects across industry, logistics, the creative economy, tourism and other sectors aimed at expanding the capacity of the domestic market and meeting growing global demand.

I would like to reiterate that the primary, leading role in this effort naturally belongs to the business community, driven by its interest in promising projects and in creating quality, modern jobs in our cities and towns.

I would like to highlight the educational, cultural, environmental, volunteer, and charitable initiatives undertaken by the business community, as well as the support it provides to service members and veterans of the special military operation and their families. I would also like to acknowledge the role companies play in improving public spaces and implementing master plans for the development of cities and towns. And, of course, there are corporate demographic programmes designed to support employees and families with children.

In today's objectively challenging times, the Russian businesses are demonstrating a responsible civic stance and a genuine commitment to improving the quality of life of our citizens. In this respect, our domestic entrepreneurial class has become an active and engaged part of Russian civil society.

Through their daily, intensive work, our entrepreneurs demonstrate that their knowledge, skills, interests and plans are firmly connected with Russia and the growing prosperity of our people. It is extremely important that we are working together to put into practice a clear and historically proven formula: a strong sovereign nation is the foundation for a strong and competitive business.

I am confident that you will continue to act with the same energy and dedication. Through your initiatives and decisions, you will uphold the high standing of entrepreneurship in society and the value of the creative, constructive work it entails, while further strengthening the role and importance of the private sector in our national economy.

The state will, by all means, continue to support business and investment activity and work alongside you to solve the most pressing issues.

I have just mentioned my recent meeting with Alexei Repik. We discussed several fundamental issues facing the business community and possible approaches to resolving them.

I know that these same issues are being discussed today in your conversations with one another and with government officials at both federal and regional levels.

As I have said, my colleagues and I are ready to hear your proposals and discuss possible joint steps to improve the business climate, as well as what both the state and the business community can do to operate even more effectively.

Thank you for your attention.

Please, Mr Repik.

To be continued.