KEY CONCLUSIONS
Russia exports technologies, education and culture
“Our technologies are not just proven by strict requirements of Russian and international regulators – they are the best in the world. Naturally, we are exporting knowledge, because it takes more than a course book to learn how to operate a nuclear power plant and master technologies. It is a complicated process. We enrol about 2 thousand international students in our universities annually to make sure they later work in their native countries. <…> We also export operating culture, safety culture, and a culture of respect for this knowledge and the technologies that bear a colossal energy potential. <…> We export values and a certain way of life, because our towns are areas of compact settlement. These are dynasty-driven places, where work traditions and culture are passed on generation to generation,” Alexey Likhachev, Director General, State Atomic Energy Corporation ROSATOM.
Cooperation with Russia is a hot trend
“In the province of Mersin [Turkey, – Ed.], which is home to Akkuyu power plant, 75% of people were against nuclear power. <…> After just 5–6 years, the level of our support reached 85–86%. <…> Becoming a part of the big Russian family became trendy, sought after and prestigious. <…> We enter a country and say: ‘You are a newbie. In addition to the project, let us offer you a whole set of opportunities you can enjoy as Russia’s partner.’ <...> It is education, infrastructure, legislation, work with the local media and elites (both on the national and regional level), and continuous visits by delegations from both countries. <…> We are creating a project for a hundred years [for one power plant, – Ed.]. A minimum of four dynasties will be working in this territory, sharing their culture. <…> It is important for us to build the best power plants in the world, and train personnel appropriately. This staff must be able to use all the advantages, build an operating culture and a safety culture and come up with a single value environment – a single environment for the people,” Alexey Likhachev, Director General, State Atomic Energy Corporation ROSATOM.
Russia offers foreigners an opportunity to become part of the world history
“Our country gave these opportunities to foreign citizens in its territory – to those foreigners, who were somehow related or tied to this country. They used these opportunities to become part of both our country’s history and the world’s history. <…> We can offer foreigners become part of history and processes in our country,” Maria Zakharova, Director, Department of Information and the Press, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.
PROBLEMS
Young people do not understand the meaning of significant and progressive projects in Russia
“We are fighting for our young people. <…> One of the most popular questions is: ‘What do you offer them in remote foreign countries, when you as a country cannot produce anything – not even jeans or phones?’ <…> Our country is building nuclear power plants for people abroad. You cannot seriously compare it to sewing jeans. It is an honourable mission that is easily sold. <…> You should not do anything artificially. <…> In today’s world, we see an energy-related ideological disbalance. There should be constant things – they are set by our country,” Maria Zakharova, Director, Department of Information and the Press, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.
Russia will face a long conflict
“Years of fighting are upon us. <…> It is going to be a long race. We need to get ready for a marathon, instead of 100-metre race. The 100-metre race is not over yet – it will last until the end of the year, while we are facing a marathon – 42 kilometres. <…> All of us need to look for opportunities. For example, our new product revenue was 86% up in the first four months of the year,” Alexey Likhachev, Director General, State Atomic Energy Corporation ROSATOM.
“Russia is a part of the big global world. <…> Three quarters of the planet are open for work, because they have not joined the sanctions and are friendly to us. <…> The Russian market and the CIS market are a big and interesting segment, with almost 300 million people. <…> We are a big and significant part of the world in terms of culture, sport and technologies. <…> It is hard to produce an item under the global system of division of labour. Both we and they need cooperation. <…> If Russian companies are making a cool product or offering a cool service, it is strange to sell them to 2% of the global economy – this is the volume of Russia’s market today. It is strange to leave 98% of the world without access to your product or service. If you reached such a high quality, your product must be available everywhere. Folk that work abroad should have the opportunity to join you in creating this product,” Yevgeny Demin, Director General, SPLAT Global.
SOLUTIONS
Developing Russia’s economy to promote the Russian language
“We have seen a spike in interest toward Russia in Africa and Asia. <…> They feel successful, safe, cosy and warm with Russia. <…> We are trying to be as pragmatic and practical as possible. <…> Russia will never abandon the idea of attracting talented people. <…> The demand for the Russian language is driven by the social effect brought by the Russian language. <…> We more cost-efficient, active and successful we are, the more popular the Russian language becomes,” Evgeny Primakov, Head, Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo).
Initiative and promptness
“We find ourselves in the situation that offers additional opportunities for accumulating initial capital. <…> We shall not allow ourselves import whatever supports our strategic industries. In any situation, we need to promptly repurpose our production for making what our security – in the broad sense of this word – needs. <…> I believe we cannot constantly focus on what the West will think of us. We need to ignore what they write or publish about us. We need to focus on our domestic media, mass communication tools, platforms, computers and, first of all, our people, their incomes and level of life, etc.” Maria Zakharova, Director, Department of Information and the Press, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.
For more information, visit the Roscongress Foundation’s Information and Analytical System roscongress.org.
