To the East! Routes of the New Times

We have successfully reoriented logistics to the East. We were prepared for this. <…> Not only have we redirected cargo, but we are also developing the Eastern Polygon itself. The President has approved the third phase of the Eastern Polygon. <…> By 2030, we plan to transport 210 million tonnes of cargo, and by 2032 – 270 million tonnes — Vitaly Saveliev, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation.

We have pivoted. But we have pivoted not only towards exports; we have also pivoted towards ourselves – to the Far East. There has been a significant increase in transportation to the East, as the economy is developing. This growth is important for us. The Eastern Polygon is not only geared towards exports and the creation of conditions but also towards the development of the economy in the East — Oleg Belozerov, Chief Executive Officer – Chairman of the Executive Board, Russian Railways.

We see that the pivot to the East has taken place, and not only in recent years. <…> It is quite clear that the extension of logistical chains to the East also promotes, paradoxically, the development of other transport corridors in addition to the one we call the East – this includes the ‘North-South’ corridor and the Northern Sea Route — Sergey Shishkarev, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Delo Group of Companies.

The President has emphasized that the accelerated development of the Far Eastern region is an absolute priority for 21st-century Russia — Roman Starovoyt, Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation.

The Far East is an absolute priority. <…> It cannot exist without aviation. This has historically been the case, and it is also a reflection of modernity. The goal set by the President, to have 4 million passengers within the Far East, is indeed a serious challenge for Far Eastern aviation. It will require significant resources, not just aircraft but also additional personnel, as the fleet will grow. We will also need to maintain the airworthiness of these aircraft. In other words, this is a substantial task — Sergey Aleksandrovskiy, General Director, Aeroflot.

We must strive to increase the volume of transportation and production, solving these problems through unconventional means. <…> In my opinion, the main problem is people. According to our data, the production enterprise is growing. While in some areas we are optimizing and increasing productivity, here we are expanding. And we are facing a severe shortage of people. The biggest challenge for us is to attract people here — Oleg Belozerov, Chief Executive Officer – Chairman of the Executive Board, Russian Railways.

We hope for a reduction in interest rates because the rate cannot be significantly higher than the average return on capital for Russian businesses. If the rate is higher than the average return on capital, businesses might as well stop working and just deposit their money. Therefore, we certainly hope for a gradual approach that will make it possible to invest more in transport projects — Kirill Dmitriev, Chief Executive Officer, Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF).

We have an international railway bridge project on the Jalinda – Mohe route. <…> Everything is ready to implement this project. Moreover, this project has received approval from the intergovernmental commission. Logically, we should now seek further approval and begin construction. I believe now is the time in the country when such decisions need to be made more quickly and boldly — Vasily Orlov, Governor of Amur Region.

In addition to customs control, customs authorities also carry out checks on behalf of several other agencies at checkpoints. <…> Government decisions have already been prepared to, where possible, consolidate these types of control under the customs service. By eliminating unnecessary layers of interaction between agencies, we are also reducing the decision-making time, which will undoubtedly allow us to create an uninterrupted corridor for the movement of vehicles through checkpoints — Vladimir Ivin, Deputy Head, Federal Customs Service of the Russian Federation.

We have defined our mission as creating the most efficient transport system in the world to enhance competitiveness, the economy, and quality of life in Russia. <…> Transport should, of course, be a source of pride for every Russian, a pride of our country — Roman Starovoyt, Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation.

The national project ‘Efficient Transport System’, in which we will implement nine federal projects, includes a core network of aerodromes, checkpoints, the Northern Sea Route, the Eastern Polygon, and finally a high-speed railway. I believe the time will come when we will also plan high-speed railways as part of the Far East’s development — Vitaly Saveliev, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation.

The national project on unmanned innovative systems is being implemented. GTLK is a key supplier of drones. <…> I believe this is the future, and preferential leasing of drones is the most effective form of utilization, where instead of directly handing over a ‘piece of metal’ to a customer, we provide a service – qualified operators who can maintain the fleet, supply spare parts, and operate the flights. They can also ‘share’ unmanned aircraft between different customers. This is the future, and we will promote this initiative as part of the new national project — Evgeniy Ditrikh, Chief Executive Officer, GTLK.

Can we transport more coal to the East? Yes, we can. What needs to be done? Virtually the entire fleet needs to become innovative. In the near future, eight-axle tank wagons will transport petroleum products to the East. We must utilize all available resources, and we are trying to do this with you — Oleg Belozerov, Chief Executive Officer – Chairman of the Executive Board, Russian Railways.

A colleague from Peru just spoke and said that they are building a hub on the Pacific coast for the first time, with USD 1.5 billion in investments. Let’s quickly find these markets, enter them, and conquer the space that rightfully belongs to us — Sergey Shishkarev, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Delo Group of Companies.

Transport opportunities have been created, and investments are ready to come in. We are indeed increasing our share in Asian markets. The markets of Asia and the Global South are positively disposed towards Russia. Therefore, it is important for us to seize all these opportunities together, while not forgetting the favourable conditions for investments. <…> The ability to attract partners from the Global South is something we can achieve — Kirill Dmitriev, Chief Executive Officer, Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF).