MOSCOW, December 4 (Sputnik) – Russia should reduce its dependence on foreign technologies, which has now reached a critical level, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday.
"We should also reduce critical dependence on foreign technologies and industrial products, namely in the production of machinery and equipment," Putin said during his annual address to the Russian parliament.
Putin emphasized that national commodities trading companies should primarily orient at Russian producers and thus form domestic demand.
Moreover, the president suggested establishing a governmental coordination center for the implementation of major projects and development of domestic production and technologies.
Anti-Russia sanctions introduced by a number of Western countries over the alleged Russia's role in the Ukrainian crisis have given Russian companies and industries a reason to work on import substitution.
The restrictions target Russia's banking, oil and defense sectors and ban the provision of technical and other assistance to Russian companies in the field of oil exploration and production.
In September, Vladimir Kozhin, Russian president's aide on military-technical cooperation, said the sanctions have forced Russia to launch a comprehensive import substitution program that would help domestic manufactures overcome dependency on foreign components.
On November 11, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said cancelling or easing of Western sanctions against Russia will not affect plans for import substitution in the country's military-industrial complex.
