"Made in Russia". Surprising words of the Russian Deputy Prime Minister: even "friendly countries" do not want Russian products

The First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, Andrei Belousov, has acknowledged that Western sanctions have posed challenges for Russia's exports. Even in countries like India, China, or in Central Asia, there is a reluctance to purchase Russian products. Creating a competitive advantage for Russian companies will take considerable time, and meanwhile, costs continue to rise.

Belousov pointed out that Russian goods, which were previously sold in Europe before the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, are finding no takers in "friendly countries."

"When we say, 'We are not allowed to enter the European market where we used to be, so we have to enter the markets of friendly countries,' we must understand that no one is eagerly awaiting our presence in these markets. They are either occupied by local goods or by competitors offering European products."
he stated in an interview with the Russian daily Kommersant.

The Russian Deputy Prime Minister highlighted that there are currently no Russian goods in China, India, and Vietnam. To enter these markets, manufacturers must establish a competitive advantage. However, he identified a significant obstacle—logistics.

"It's one thing to transport cargo to Europe through Rotterdam, and another to transport it to Southeast Asia, China, India, or Central Asia. The costs of this process vary, and to at least equalize profitability, we need to make significant efforts" - admitted Belousov.

He further emphasized the challenge of the lack of recognition of Russian brands, stating, "Export is closely tied to branding. First, we need to introduce the 'Made in Russia' brand to the market and then associate it with specific types of products".

Belousov shared that the Russian government is actively working on a new foreign trade strategy. This strategy will be based on building alliances with “friendly” countries that support Russia and are willing to forego joining the global system of labor division in favor of "creating strategic, sustainable development".

"We can talk about an interpenetrating system of alliances in which several main players create different multilateral and bilateral alliances. The resulting network is what we call a multipolar world," Belousov explained.

He acknowledged that adopting such an approach might be challenging for many companies, stating, "because the rules for forming alliances vary and there may be no universal rules." Nevertheless, he added that sooner or later, the world will have to work out these rules, as the alternative is to plunge into chaos.