MOSCOW, March 18. /TASS/. Even as some Western companies that left Russia are expressing an interest in returning to the country, homegrown businesses will remain the priority for the state, President Vladimir Putin told a congress of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs.
"Now these companies are planning to come back. We are aware of this. <...> But our companies which took their place are at different stages of the investment cycle," he said.
"Some have already made investments, set up production, and some are just starting their project and beginning construction, despite high interest rates. And, of course, we have no right to undermine these plans, to nullify the invested time and resources, the interests of Russian companies and their employees. For us, their interests will always be a priority. We will consider the issue of foreign businesses returning to our market," he said.
The president also noted that Russian businesses wisely took advantage of the departure of Western companies, occupied vacant niches, created jobs, and devoted a lot of time and effort to technology development.