KOVROV, Vladimir Region. March 16 (Interfax-AVN) - A large defense industry holding company, based on a number of defense industry enterprises, may be established in the Vladimir region, the Degtyarev Plant press-service told Interfax-Military News Agency on Tuesday.
"The prospects of establishing a large integrated company in Kovrov, based on local defense industry enterprises, were discussed in the course of the meeting, held at the Degtyarev Plant the other day, which saw participation of senior defense industry officials and representatives of the Russian Defense Ministry," a press-service official said.
According to him, the meeting saw participation of Alexander Nozdrachev, former director general of the Russian Conventional Weapons Agecy, and current chairman of the Board of Directors of the ZiD Company, Vladislav Polonsky, head of the Defense Ministry's Armor Directorate, Nikolay Svertilov, head of the Defense Ministry's Artillery Directorate, and Alexander Kolmakov, Airborne Forces Commander. The meeting was also attended by senior officials and experts from the Degtyarev Plant, the Kovrov Engineering Plant, the Signal Research and Development Institute, and the Muromteplovoz Plant.
"According to Svertilov, establishment of an integrated materiel modernization center in Kovrov is a step forward in boosting further development of enterprises in question and the town proper," the official said.
He also reported that participants in the meeting believed that establishment of the holding company had been caused both by geographical proximity of research and development and industrial enterprises, and economic factors.
"For instance, Vladimir Styukhin, director of the Kovrov Engineering Plant, noted that the holding company was being established in order for the plants to work on joint projects, integrate their production process, and reduce costs," the official said.
According to him, the meeting also discussed the issues of training personnel for the national defense industry.