IZHEVSK. Sept 20(Interfax) - All Russian defense enterprises should increase the civilian share of their outputs, including for the purpose of export, and participate in national projects, Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Speaking at a nationwide arms makers' forum in Izhevsk, Putin stressed that the industry should increase its export potential, not least through its civilian products.
"In 2018, the proportion of civilian products in the industry stood at almost 21%. There are more and more of such competitive, sought-after products," Putin said.
A case in point is the Kalashnikov-made Arctic drone and special Arctic gear, he said.
"Just like those based in Izhevsk, all our defense industry organizations should find new niches and enter the domestic and foreign markets more boldly," Putin said.
"National projects and other large-scale state programs are opening a huge field of work," he said.
"For their implementation, billions of rubles will be allocated to develop digital economy, infrastructure, introduce the latest information technologies, upgrade our health care system, education, urban and communal services, solve ecologic problems, and create a modern waste-recycling industry. Here, our defense enterprises should take their worthy position and use these financial opportunities provided by the state," Putin said.