According to Medvedev, a total of 22 billion RUB has over the last two years been invested in the industry, a sum which not only helped the shipbuilding companies counter the crisis, but also increased output by almost 25 percent, a press release from the presidential administration reads.
The developments in the Arctic were devoted special attention in the Security Council meeting.
-The fight for Arctic resources, which has been growing stronger lately, is a separate issue, Medvedev said, adding that the challenges in the region must be given attention in a shipbuilding development programme. He especially highlighted that the programme must outline what can be produced in Russia and what need to be acquired from abroad.
Russia has high ambitions for the development of its Arctic waters and over the next years plans to build a big number of offshore oil and gas installations and vessels.
Present in the session was also Roman Trotsenko, leader of the United Shipbuilding Corporation, the state-owned company established in 2007 to help boost Russian military and civilian shipbuilding. The corporation, which consists of a northern, western and a far eastern division, includes 14 shipbuilding companies and will in the near future be added several more enterprises.
During a separate meeting with Mr. Trotsenko, Medvedev signed a decree which will enable the shipbuilding corporation to engage independently in import and export, as well as leasing, of vessels and maritime equipment.
