VLADIMIR PUTIN
ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE
OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
VLADIMIR PUTIN
ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE
OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
VLADIMIR PUTIN
Transcript of the opening of the meeting:
Vladimir Putin: Mr Marchionne (Fiat Group CEO), ladies and gentlemen,
I congratulate you on signing these contracts today, which have opened a new chapter Russian-Italian partnership. I have recently discussed all the aspects of this partnership in a telephone conversation with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, and we hope to see Mr Berlusconi in Moscow soon to continue our dialogue.
We attach great importance to your agreement with Kamaz. Our relationship with Fiat was established several decades ago. Your Dutch branch is a world leader in manufacturing farm machinery, and its products have proven their worth in Russia. I think this agreement to establish two joint ventures represents great progress.
We are interested in both partners complying with all their obligations-in particular, as far as company geography and the related concentration of production are concerned.
You have good relationships with many Russian companies, and the automobile industry is no exception. Sollers is just one example of this. We have signed an agreement with Pirelli concerning the production of tyres. Such partnerships will be a significant advantage to Italian and Russian manufacturers in the adverse present-day economic situation.
I assure you we will analyse all our agreements as closely as we can, and we will provide you with all the support you need at the government level.
Sergio Marchionne (as translated): Thank you for finding the time for this meeting. I also want to stress our partners' role, and their readiness for cooperation.
Our presence in Russia really matters to us. At last we have found a partner to implement this idea, after painstaking search and analysis.
I see Mr Putin's point when he mentions the significant concentration of our production, and I see that such openness is of great importance. We have discussed the option with Kamaz, which has the infrastructure and facilities necessary to launch production here and as soon as possible.
As for our partnership with Sollers, we reaffirm our obligations to them, and reassure them that we are ready to work together in any situation.
Vladimir Putin: You intend to build another two plants there.
Sergio Marchionne: That is right, and each plant will be specialised in its own lines of production. I think Fiat will further step up its partnership with Russia and the United States.
We would like to start manufacturing SUVs in Russia, so we will continue to cooperate with Sollers and promote this production as much as possible.
Vladimir Putin: SUVs are in high demand in Russia due to its shortage of good highways.
Sergio Marchionne: I see.
Vladimir Putin: At any rate, I want to stress again that whatever we are doing together is based on our growing and mutual confidence in each other, and that investment-especially direct investment-will be promoted in every way. Thank you.
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An agreement launching production of farm and special purpose machinery by Case New Holland/Fiat Group at Kamaz facilities, and a joint venture promoting Case New Holland/Fiat Group commodities produced at Kamaz facilities was signed in the presence of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
