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The meeting was attended by First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Maxim Oreshkin, Minister of Industry and Trade Anton Alikhanov, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Alexander Kozlov, and Director General of State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom Alexei Likhachev.

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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Colleagues, good evening.

Just as we agreed, I suggest that we take a closer look at a matter we discussed at a recent session of the Future Technologies Forum. I am referring to the development of the domestic sector for rare and rare-earth metals. I mentioned this topic in my opening remarks, and it also arose during the discussions.

I would like to note that as far as resources are concerned this sector plays a major role in fuelling modern economy. There is demand for rare-earth metals across multiple sectors, including microelectronics, energy, building infrastructure for the digital economy, and many other civilian and defence applications. In fact, we are talking about almost all sectors within the new technological framework which defines progress around the world. Of course, we need to keep pace with these developments to successfully compete in global markets and create a solid foundation for placing the Russian economy on track for lasting and steady development.

We launched a national technological leadership project this year with a view to expanding the capabilities within the domestic manufacturing sector by harnessing new materials. Titled New Materials and Chemistry, this national project includes, among other things, initiatives aimed at building a full-cycle rare and rare-earth metals sector, covering all the stages from their extraction and processing to the production of ready-to-use value-added high-technology products. We expect output of these products to increase manifold as part of this national project.

What we are talking about here is laying the strategic groundwork for our future, about a priority sector that already defines and will further define the country’s competitive edge in the global market, the pace of its economic development, and the quality of life of our citizens.

It is imperative that we focus all available development tools and frameworks on solving the tasks set. Let me remind you that last year’s Address to the Federal Assembly included this topic.

I suggest that we review the plans we have in all their aspects. I will ask First Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Manturov, to make the first presentation. Go ahead, please.

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