Chairman of the Russian Government Vladimir Putin visited KAMAZ

December 19, the Chairman of the Russian Government, Vladimir Putin, was on a working visit in the Republic of Tatarstan.

The President of the Republic of Tatarstan, Mintimer Shaimiev, the Plenipotentiary Envoy to the President of the Russian Federation in the Volga Federal District, Grigory Rapota, the Head of the municipal formation “The city of Naberezhnye Chelny”, Ildar Khalikov, met the head of the Russian Government in the International Airport Begishevo.

The main aim of Vladimir Putin’s working trip to Tatarstan was a visit to OAO KAMAZ for the meeting on the development of the automobile production in Russia.

Vladimir Putin visited the Scientific and technical center KAMAZ. He was accompanied by Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiev and KAMAZ General Director Sergey Kogogin. The Prime-minister was shown prospective models including numerous military machines such as artillery tractors and even armoured carriers on the basis of KAMAZ.

The head of the government of the Russian Federation also got acquainted with experimental development of engines, chassis. Vladimir Putin expressed interest in working conditions of employees of the scientific and technological centre and invited two of them to the meeting with the management.

Then, the meeting on the development of the Russian automobile industry took place.

KAMAZ General Director Sergey Kogogin addressed to Prime-minister Vladimir Putin with a request to support the enterprise that is experiencing crisis difficulties.

I can say the day when the situation of KAMAZ worsened, Sergey Kogogin said at the meeting led by Vladimir Putin at the plant. It was the 19th of September 2008. That was the day when the daily proceeds fell to 150 million. KAMAZ did not get the works only because it got a loan of 135 million euro in September.

"Kogogin believes that the must important now is to boost demand for motor transport. KAMAZ has got its strategy. We have staked on creation of engineering centres jointly with foreign companies in Naberezhnye Chelny. We have seen different times but now it would be difficult to keep going without support," Sergey Kogogin declared.