Anton Alikhanov took part in a Khimia 2025 plenary session

Anton Alikhanov, Minister of Industry and Trade of Russia, took part in the Plenary Session on Technological Leadership in the Chemical Industry: Challenges and Accomplishments within the Khimia 2025 Forum and its New Materials and Chemistry Track

In his welcoming speech, Anton Alikhanov noted that over the past ten years, the volume of output in value terms has increased threefold. Domestic consumption increased 3.3 times, while exports increased 2.5 times.

“Since the beginning of the year, we have managed to launch 20 projects in the chemical industry. The total investment is about 60 billion rubles. These are mainly enterprises that continue the course of import substitution – projects related to specialty chemicals and production of packaging of polymer products. This year, we have mastered 56 new chemical materials for the electronic industry,” said the minister.

According to the minister, the main achievement in the chemical industry is a low share of imports. Today, this figure is about 34%, but the Ministry aims to reduce this amount to 30% by 2030.

In addition, the objectives of the New Materials and Chemistry national project require creating more than 130 new chemical production facilities over the next 5 years. Anton Alikhanov stressed that as part of this work, the ministry places special emphasis on specialty chemicals in order to fully close the production cycle of the industry. He also noted that compared to 2020, output in this segment increased by more than 80% and amounted to 420 billion rubles last year.

Anton Alikhanov paid special attention to the HR issues in the industry.

“Today we see steady growth in employment in the chemical industry. Over the past five years, the number of employees in the industry has increased by more than 100,000 people. On the threshold of the implementation of the national project, we expect an additional request for another 100,000 professionals. We will need engineers, technologists, and specialists in digital solutions,” said the minister.

He also noted that in 2025 it is planned to complete the work on updating 10 network programmes and 30 higher education programmes, taking into account the needs of the industry’s enterprises. The Work on improvement the qualifications of university teachers is also underway: 440 higher education teachers from 29 universities in Russia are already being trained.

As part of his work at the forum, Anton Alikhanov toured the showcase of Khimia 2025. Among other things, the minister saw advanced Russian-made laboratory equipment, mineral fertilizers, and developments in the field of specialty chemicals.

Source: the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade