The opening of the
Russian Textile Week on
February 20 and the plenary session
‘New Initiatives in Promotion of Light and Textile Industry Products’ held on the same day demonstrated the growing interest of representatives of authorities and of the expert community in solving the problems of the country’s textile industry. The participants made assessments of the current situation in the domestic light industry and outlined the promising directions for the development of this industrial complex.
Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation
Viktor Yevtukhov 
stated that “the state’s attitude to the industry is incomparable with that which took place in the 1990’s. President Vladimir Putin aims the Government to implement comprehensive measures to support the industry, which is a fundamental principle in the development and implementation of these measures. ”
According to
V.Yevtukhov, subsidizing loans, facilitating the localization of production, measures to restrict the export of raw materials, and facilitating the attraction of investments are among the main measures of direct and indirect support of the light industry. In particular, “the volume of state support for the industry this year will increase to
3 billion rubles, including
1 billion rubles for leasing equipment.” The practice of supporting “landmark projects of the industry aimed at the development of import substitution will also continue: for example, these are projects in the field of technical textiles, including the production of worsted wool fabrics. These goods, firstly, are enjoying growing demand in the domestic and foreign markets, and secondly, many projects have been prepared or are already being implemented in this sector of the textile industry of the country”. In addition, the support of industrial R & D (at least
500 million rubles) will continue, providing for “mandatory practical implementation of the results of these works.”
Victor Yevtukhov also drew attention to the factor of the EAEU, which requires an agreed interstate policy in all sectors of the textile industry. Thus, for example, the Belarusian
‘Mogilekhimvolokno’ remains a major supplier of chemical fibers and chemical weapons in the Russian Federation, but in the context of the EEC decisions on the formation of a unified industrial policy, it is necessary to ensure that the mutual supply of these or any other textile products in the EEC region does not suppress the development of its production In any country of the Union “. The factor of the EAEU, in the opinion of the deputy minister, is also directly related to the joint measures of the member countries to prevent the import of counterfeit to the region, as well as the dumping of re-exports of products between the countries of the Union.
Similar assessments were made by the President of the Chamber of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation
Sergey Katyrin and the Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Education and Science
Vyacheslav Nikonov. They also focused attention on the high resource-production potential of the industry in the EAEU region, which allows for more active development of import substitution in various sectors of light industry. According to Sergey Katyrin and Vyacheslav Nikonov, balances of mutual supplies of raw and finished textile products can be coordinated between the EAEU countries, and joint programs can be developed to develop various sectors of the textile industry in the context of observing equal competition and other tasks mentioned.
The head of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the chairman of the Organizing Committee of the
Russian Textile Week Sergey Katyrin stressed that the
Russian Textile Week became the leading site of the domestic light industry “to represent the industry’s capabilities, its innovative and technological potential. Here, the professional community will be able to establish new ties, to exchange experience, discuss and develop recommendations for the government, ministries and departments, the State Duma, which will help develop the textile and light industry.” A similar opinion was voiced by the Director General of the Expocentre Fairgrounds
Sergei Bednov.
During the plenary session
‘New Initiatives in Promoting Light and Textile Goods’, the Deputy Minister explained a number of directions of state policy in the industry. Noting that “for example,
Vologda Textile avoided bankruptcy due to joint measures of the state and business. Now the company is gradually expanding its product line for the domestic and foreign markets. ”
It was also noted that in Tver and Smolensk regions it is planned to create “technological modern linen clusters, taking into account the greater demand for linen products in the production of textiles for the purpose and the continuing growth in the consumption of domestic linen fabrics in the country.”
The list of textile goods subjected to obligatory electronic marking will also be expanded: “The experience of such work with fur products has proved its effectiveness. And its main indicators are the rapid rates of output of this sub-sector and its products from the “shadow” sector. Including the sphere of export-import. ”
Among the main problems of the textile complex, as
V. Yevtukhov and other participants of the plenary forum noted, are illegal production and import of products; more active localization of production; the inaccessibility of “long” loans on favorable terms for enterprises. The latter is partially solved with the help of the Industrial Development Fund and the Monocities Development Fund.
The deputy minister also noted that the Ministry of Industry and Trade offered the companies
Decathlon,
Sportmaster,
Nike,
Finn Flare to work out, within the framework of the working group, a comprehensive program of localization of production in the country. The meeting with the representatives of these companies, which took place on the eve of the Russian Textile Week, “preliminarily marked their positive reaction on this topic”.
Director for the trend management of German
Messe Frankfurt,
Michael Eneke, in his speech stated the importance of the Russian Textile Week for acquaintance with the opportunities of the textile industry of the Russian Federation and the subsequent development of projects with the participation of foreign investors, which “are increasingly interested in the Russian textile market, its production capabilities and consumer trends.”
This company, according to
Mr. Eneke, is among the co-organizers of the exhibition of technical textiles within the framework of the Russian Textile Week, which is in great demand in Russia and abroad. And the agreement signed in January 2017 with the Russian Union of Entrepreneurs of Textile and Light Industry on cooperation in exhibition and fair work “will enable it to activate and expand both the industrial and geographical spectrum of fair and exhibition events.”
Mutual advantage of such cooperation was noted by
Andrey Razbrodin, the president of the
Russian Union of Entrepreneurs of Textile and Light Industry. Recalling that “expositionally wide exhibition of various products of textile and light industry, thanks to the assistance of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation,
Expocentre has been held already for the 4
th time. Regarding the state policy in the textile industry of the country, A. Razbrodin stressed that “it needs, first of all, iregulative measures of state support. Moreover, they are relevant today, when there are trends in the acceleration of production localization, quantitative and qualitative growth in the sector of technical textiles and a number of other sectors of our industry. ”
Maxim Protasov, the head of
Roskachestvo, drew attention to the main problems that are typical for the products of domestic and foreign manufacturers on the Russian market. They are: the lack of information in Russian (in the marking of imported goods); discrepancy of the real composition of the goods to the declared and / or technical requirements of the TS. It is required, in his opinion, to specify a number of technical regulations for textile products, “especially for components in the composition of finished products.”
M.Protasov also said that “the government recently approved a list of 15 areas of research on this issue.”
Vladimir Golovnev, a member of the General Council of Business Russia, authorized to protect the rights of entrepreneurs in the Moscow region, noted in his speech that “the state has turned its face to the industry. At the same time, the most productive for it is the more active use of public-private partnership options. ” He also stressed the fact that Western business is increasingly interested in cooperation with Russian partners in the industry and, “in this connection, successfully bypasses anti-Russian sanctions “. This is very important for attracting investment in the Russian light industry and its entry into the foreign market. Both are directly related to the localization of production and the creation of modern textile clusters. One of them will be created in the next few years in the Pavlovo-Posadsky district of the Moscow region, and in general, such clusters are an all-Russian trend. ”
Svetlana Davletova, Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of the Ivanovo Region, underscored the almost decisive role of this region in the development of traditional and new branches of the light industry. The region “produces
25% of the total Russian output of linen fabrics, at least
60% of cotton fabrics. After many crisis years, in the regional light industry there was a gradual increase in production; the employment in the industry increased by
15% only in 2016 “. It was also noted that the investments of the Industrial Development Fund (FDP) in the textile industry of the region are estimated at about 2 billion rubles.
One of the largest projects in the region is the PET plant in the Vichugsky district: it is planned to begin construction this year, according to
S.Davletova, this year. Consumers of the products of the complex will be, including, the enterprises of Ivanovo region. The payback period of the project will not exceed 9 years. As noted by the Deputy Prime Minister, “VEB’s recent decision to lend to this project is a strategic factor for the accelerated development of the production of polyester fiber and granulate. And, accordingly, import substitution of these products. Davletova also noted the formation of a cluster in the Navoloka region for the production of textile products for medical purposes. And the attraction of investments, based on PPP, to the industrial park “Rodniki” is estimated at
2 billion rubles, “and over 50% of its production capacity is textile production.”
Mikhail Makarov, deputy director of the FRP, like other forum participants, drew attention to “the difficult conditions for obtaining commercial loans for the development of the light industry and other industries.” The Fund provides loans on “sparing” conditions: up to
500 million rubles. For 5 – 7 years at 5% per annum. Under condition of
50% co-financing from “the companies implementing projects, the recipients of these loans.”
Valery Seleznev (Office of the FCS for the production of goods) in his speech stressed that the most pressing problem “in our area remains illegal re-export of light industry products through other countries of the EAEU to Russia. In this connection, it was noted “the importance of electronic labeling of goods for the growth of legal exports and imports of textiles. This trend 7 is confirmed by the introduction of such markings for fur products. “
Vladimir Maltsev, the representative of the ECC, explained this: “The total volume of the textile goods market in the EEA reaches
60 billion dollars, but only a third is the output of the countries of the Union. At the same time, import is still dominated by medium and low-quality imports. ” According to him, to improve this situation, interstate technological chains have been developed or are being finalized in the light industry for the development of import substitution of the full cycle – “on yarn, technical textiles, sewing sub-sector”. In addition, in 2017, “interstate balances for the mutual supply of textile raw materials in the EAEU region” will be prepared.
stated that “the state’s attitude to the industry is incomparable with that which took place in the 1990’s. President Vladimir Putin aims the Government to implement comprehensive measures to support the industry, which is a fundamental principle in the development and implementation of these measures. ”
According to V.Yevtukhov, subsidizing loans, facilitating the localization of production, measures to restrict the export of raw materials, and facilitating the attraction of investments are among the main measures of direct and indirect support of the light industry. In particular, “the volume of state support for the industry this year will increase to 3 billion rubles, including 1 billion rubles for leasing equipment.” The practice of supporting “landmark projects of the industry aimed at the development of import substitution will also continue: for example, these are projects in the field of technical textiles, including the production of worsted wool fabrics. These goods, firstly, are enjoying growing demand in the domestic and foreign markets, and secondly, many projects have been prepared or are already being implemented in this sector of the textile industry of the country”. In addition, the support of industrial R & D (at least 500 million rubles) will continue, providing for “mandatory practical implementation of the results of these works.” 
Victor Yevtukhov also drew attention to the factor of the EAEU, which requires an agreed interstate policy in all sectors of the textile industry. Thus, for example, the Belarusian ‘Mogilekhimvolokno’ remains a major supplier of chemical fibers and chemical weapons in the Russian Federation, but in the context of the EEC decisions on the formation of a unified industrial policy, it is necessary to ensure that the mutual supply of these or any other textile products in the EEC region does not suppress the development of its production In any country of the Union “. The factor of the EAEU, in the opinion of the deputy minister, is also directly related to the joint measures of the member countries to prevent the import of counterfeit to the region, as well as the dumping of re-exports of products between the countries of the Union.
Similar assessments were made by the President of the Chamber of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation Sergey Katyrin and the Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Education and Science Vyacheslav Nikonov. They also focused attention on the high resource-production potential of the industry in the EAEU region, which allows for more active development of import substitution in various sectors of light industry. According to Sergey Katyrin and Vyacheslav Nikonov, balances of mutual supplies of raw and finished textile products can be coordinated between the EAEU countries, and joint programs can be developed to develop various sectors of the textile industry in the context of observing equal competition and other tasks mentioned. 
The head of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Russian Textile Week Sergey Katyrin stressed that the Russian Textile Week became the leading site of the domestic light industry “to represent the industry’s capabilities, its innovative and technological potential. Here, the professional community will be able to establish new ties, to exchange experience, discuss and develop recommendations for the government, ministries and departments, the State Duma, which will help develop the textile and light industry.” A similar opinion was voiced by the Director General of the Expocentre Fairgrounds Sergei Bednov.
During the plenary session ‘New Initiatives in Promoting Light and Textile Goods’, the Deputy Minister explained a number of directions of state policy in the industry. Noting that “for example, Vologda Textile avoided bankruptcy due to joint measures of the state and business. Now the company is gradually expanding its product line for the domestic and foreign markets. ”
It was also noted that in Tver and Smolensk regions it is planned to create “technological modern linen clusters, taking into account the greater demand for linen products in the production of textiles for the purpose and the continuing growth in the consumption of domestic linen fabrics in the country.” 
The list of textile goods subjected to obligatory electronic marking will also be expanded: “The experience of such work with fur products has proved its effectiveness. And its main indicators are the rapid rates of output of this sub-sector and its products from the “shadow” sector. Including the sphere of export-import. ”
Among the main problems of the textile complex, as V. Yevtukhov and other participants of the plenary forum noted, are illegal production and import of products; more active localization of production; the inaccessibility of “long” loans on favorable terms for enterprises. The latter is partially solved with the help of the Industrial Development Fund and the Monocities Development Fund.
The deputy minister also noted that the Ministry of Industry and Trade offered the companies Decathlon, Sportmaster, Nike, Finn Flare to work out, within the framework of the working group, a comprehensive program of localization of production in the country. The meeting with the representatives of these companies, which took place on the eve of the Russian Textile Week, “preliminarily marked their positive reaction on this topic”. 
Director for the trend management of German Messe Frankfurt, Michael Eneke, in his speech stated the importance of the Russian Textile Week for acquaintance with the opportunities of the textile industry of the Russian Federation and the subsequent development of projects with the participation of foreign investors, which “are increasingly interested in the Russian textile market, its production capabilities and consumer trends.”
This company, according to Mr. Eneke, is among the co-organizers of the exhibition of technical textiles within the framework of the Russian Textile Week, which is in great demand in Russia and abroad. And the agreement signed in January 2017 with the Russian Union of Entrepreneurs of Textile and Light Industry on cooperation in exhibition and fair work “will enable it to activate and expand both the industrial and geographical spectrum of fair and exhibition events.”
Mutual advantage of such cooperation was noted by Andrey Razbrodin, the president of the Russian Union of Entrepreneurs of Textile and Light Industry. Recalling that “expositionally wide exhibition of various products of textile and light industry, thanks to the assistance of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation, Expocentre has been held already for the 4th time. Regarding the state policy in the textile industry of the country, A. Razbrodin stressed that “it needs, first of all, iregulative measures of state support. Moreover, they are relevant today, when there are trends in the acceleration of production localization, quantitative and qualitative growth in the sector of technical textiles and a number of other sectors of our industry. ” 
Maxim Protasov, the head of Roskachestvo, drew attention to the main problems that are typical for the products of domestic and foreign manufacturers on the Russian market. They are: the lack of information in Russian (in the marking of imported goods); discrepancy of the real composition of the goods to the declared and / or technical requirements of the TS. It is required, in his opinion, to specify a number of technical regulations for textile products, “especially for components in the composition of finished products.” M.Protasov also said that “the government recently approved a list of 15 areas of research on this issue.”
Vladimir Golovnev, a member of the General Council of Business Russia, authorized to protect the rights of entrepreneurs in the Moscow region, noted in his speech that “the state has turned its face to the industry. At the same time, the most productive for it is the more active use of public-private partnership options. ” He also stressed the fact that Western business is increasingly interested in cooperation with Russian partners in the industry and, “in this connection, successfully bypasses anti-Russian sanctions “. This is very important for attracting investment in the Russian light industry and its entry into the foreign market. Both are directly related to the localization of production and the creation of modern textile clusters. One of them will be created in the next few years in the Pavlovo-Posadsky district of the Moscow region, and in general, such clusters are an all-Russian trend. ”
Svetlana Davletova, Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of the Ivanovo Region, underscored the almost decisive role of this region in the development of traditional and new branches of the light industry. The region “produces 25% of the total Russian output of linen fabrics, at least 60% of cotton fabrics. After many crisis years, in the regional light industry there was a gradual increase in production; the employment in the industry increased by 15% only in 2016 “. It was also noted that the investments of the Industrial Development Fund (FDP) in the textile industry of the region are estimated at about 2 billion rubles. 
One of the largest projects in the region is the PET plant in the Vichugsky district: it is planned to begin construction this year, according to S.Davletova, this year. Consumers of the products of the complex will be, including, the enterprises of Ivanovo region. The payback period of the project will not exceed 9 years. As noted by the Deputy Prime Minister, “VEB’s recent decision to lend to this project is a strategic factor for the accelerated development of the production of polyester fiber and granulate. And, accordingly, import substitution of these products. Davletova also noted the formation of a cluster in the Navoloka region for the production of textile products for medical purposes. And the attraction of investments, based on PPP, to the industrial park “Rodniki” is estimated at 2 billion rubles, “and over 50% of its production capacity is textile production.”
Mikhail Makarov, deputy director of the FRP, like other forum participants, drew attention to “the difficult conditions for obtaining commercial loans for the development of the light industry and other industries.” The Fund provides loans on “sparing” conditions: up to 500 million rubles. For 5 – 7 years at 5% per annum. Under condition of 50% co-financing from “the companies implementing projects, the recipients of these loans.”
Valery Seleznev (Office of the FCS for the production of goods) in his speech stressed that the most pressing problem “in our area remains illegal re-export of light industry products through other countries of the EAEU to Russia. In this connection, it was noted “the importance of electronic labeling of goods for the growth of legal exports and imports of textiles. This trend 7 is confirmed by the introduction of such markings for fur products. “
Vladimir Maltsev, the representative of the ECC, explained this: “The total volume of the textile goods market in the EEA reaches 60 billion dollars, but only a third is the output of the countries of the Union. At the same time, import is still dominated by medium and low-quality imports. ” According to him, to improve this situation, interstate technological chains have been developed or are being finalized in the light industry for the development of import substitution of the full cycle – “on yarn, technical textiles, sewing sub-sector”. In addition, in 2017, “interstate balances for the mutual supply of textile raw materials in the EAEU region” will be prepared. 
