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Today, within the Agroprodmash 2022 exhibition, the 6^th Forum on Food Processing Machinery 2022, organised by the Rosspetsmash Association, the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade and EXPOCENTRE AO, took place. The main topic is “Russian processing machinery in the new reality. What and how to change?”

Over the six years of its existence, the Forum has established itself as a significant industry event and a platform for constructive dialogue between representatives of the industry business and the authorities. 

Machine builders, consumers of food equipment, and representatives of the relevant state authorities discussed the preliminary results of the development of Russian food engineering companies in 2022, import substitution, opportunities for Russian companies to service imported food equipment, production and localisation of components, export development and state support measures. 

The plenary session of the Forum was addressed by the heads of the Rosspetsmash Association, the relevant departments of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Agriculture, and innovative enterprises producing equipment for the food industry. 

According to the moderator, Konstantin Babkin, President of Rosspetsmash Association, the Russian food machinery industry has been showing positive dynamics for five years. During that time production has increased by 65%. However, this year the market has shrunk, in the last six months by 5%. Exports have fallen drastically. At the same time, production has increased by 12% and, accordingly, the share of our machines in the domestic market has grown significantly - by 55.6%. 

Among the problems hindering the further development of the industry, he cited, in particular, the sharply increased production costs this year. This is caused by difficulties with the supply of components, metal prices, and an increased tax burden. The negative factors are also low solvent demand, increase in logistics costs, rise in prices for materials and finished products, strengthening of the ruble against foreign currencies which seriously depresses the competitiveness of our enterprises and is the main reason for falling exports. Machine-building companies are also experiencing a shortage of working capital and dependence on imported components and materials. 

According to the head of Rosspetsmash, under these conditions, the further development of the industry requires lowering interest rates for loans to 0-1%, cutting taxes, and freezing electricity tariffs. 

Maria Yolkina, director of the Department of Agricultural, Food and Construction Equipment of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Elena Belous, deputy director of the Food and Processing Industry Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, Alexander Chernyadiev, head of Master of Innovation, Svetlana Danilina, vice president of Tauras-Phenix, an engineering plant producing packaging equipment, Yuri Gushcha, technical director of Protemol, a manufacturer and supplier of technological equipment, took an active part in the discussion. 

The speakers responded in detail to numerous questions from the interested professional audience. The Forum then included a dialogue session on "The system of state support measures for machine building companies in the current environment".

Press Service, EXPOCENTRE AO