Russian Firms Urged to Develop Technology in Case New Sanctions Imposed

Russian companies should develop their own technologies, especially for X-ray machines, to preserve operational systems in case new sanctions are introduced against Russia, Russian Federal Customs Service Deputy Head Ruslan Davydov said Wednesday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — He added that European, Chinese and US companies had been leading in the market of X-ray equipment and urged Russian producers to follow suit.

"The policy of import substitution today is very acute in Russia, unfortunately, due to certain unfriendly actions. That’s why Russian producers, primarily we should talk about producers of X-ray equipment, inspection systems… Such technologies exist in Russia and such technologies need to be developed so when, God forbid, we are put under the sanctions again and unable to receive spare parts or maintain these systems," Davydov told reporters during a press conference on the 76th session of the WCO Policy Commission held in Moscow December 5-7.

Russia switched to an import substitution policy in mid-2014, after the West imposed several rounds of sanctions against the country citing its alleged involvement in the Ukrainian internal conflict. Previously imported products are currently replaced both with Russian production and goods from countries, which have not implemented sanctions against Russia.

On Thursday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that the Russian economy remains strong despite Western sanctions, largely thanks to the import substitution program, which is aimed at increasing Russian products’ competitiveness, with special regard to non-oil sector and at joining economic alliances.