The Ministry of Economic Development has removed more than 30 barriers to new export markets in 2023

In 2023, the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation achieved the removal of more than 30 barriers that prevented domestic exporters from entering new markets. Liliya Shchur-Trukhanovich, Director of the Department for Development and Regulation of Foreign Economic Activity of the Ministry of Economic Development, spoke about this at a business breakfast on foreign economic activity “Competition in a changing world and new logistics: solutions of Russian companies”organized by the Kommersant Publishing House.

According to her, universal measures to support Russian exporters, which, for example, include subsidizing lending rates, have been adapted to new realities over the past two years. “If before we went to the West, now we go to the East, the direction just changes. Sometimes this requires a little more finance, simplifying the customer journey for exporters,” said Mrs. Shchur-Trukhanovich.

The task facing the ministry is “really big,” the official continued: “To expand its presence in foreign markets, to look at Africa as a fairly promising market, to strengthen its presence in Asian markets, the Middle East and the East itself.” Therefore, support measures should be expanded with new options that will allow goods to be delivered there faster at a competitive price, she added: “We are entering new markets where Russian exports were unknown or not so in demand, so we need to strengthen its competitiveness in price, supply, and quality.” .

According to Liliya Shchur-Trukhanovich, in this context, the Russian presence is strengthened through trade missions, the creation of trading houses and distribution centers, that is, through “the deployment of new support structures in places where our export interest is present.” As an example of a specific support measure, she cited assistance to exporters in the homologation process, that is, the transformation of a domestic product for subsequent certification in a new market.

“When we start introducing new products, there are some difficulties with access to the market. The mission of the Ministry of Economic Development is to remove all barriers. In 2023, we eliminated about 30 barriers in different countries,” said Ms. Shchur-Trukhanovich. “To do this, we use completely different methods, from multilateral negotiations and reaching preferential agreements to judicial procedures.”

The Director of the Department for Development and Regulation of Foreign Economic Activity of the Ministry of Economic Development cited the reduction of duties for Russian metallurgical products on the Turkish market as one of the successful cases of removing such barriers. “We also have successful experience with India and Mexico, where we proved that decisions regarding our products are not based on international trade law,” she added.

In parallel, the Ministry of Economic Development is creating opportunities for “priority imports.” “We need to make the road a little straighter, and sometimes a little crooked, because we need to get around sanctions,” the official explained. In addition, a parallel import support program is being implemented. “Although he has already fulfilled his role, and now we look at him differently than we looked at him for the last two years,” added Mrs. Shchur-Trukhanovich. According to her, some of the parallel imports were localized, while others were no longer in demand, so the list of goods became “fluid.”