MOSCOW, August 20 (RIA Novosti) - The aircraft-making industry is a key area to make the Russian economy more competitive, the speaker of Russia's lower house of parliament said Sunday.
"Today the development of domestic aircraft manufacturing is one of the tasks designed to ensure qualitative economic growth, develop and introduce new technologies, realize Russia's transport potential and reliably protect its air space," Boris Gryzlov said in a congratulatory letter on the occasion of Russian Air Fleet Day.
In his annual address to the Federal Assembly, President of Russia Vladimir Putin spoke about the need of a powerful breakthrough in the country's traditionally strong areas, including aircraft manufacturing, Gryzlov said.
"Proceeding from the president's address, State Duma deputies consider the support of domestic aviation as an integral part of the efforts to make the country more competitive," Gryzlov said.
