Russian deputy PM: Condition of foreign retail chains' return to Russia presence in all regions, including new ones

MOSCOW. Feb 24 (Interfax) - If foreign retail chains return to Russia, they must not forgo presence in Russia's new regions, Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov said on Sunday.

"The Russian Federation's territory is united in regulations and approaches, therefore, while placing their branches, they must take into account that there should be no gaps," he said in an interview with journalist Pavel Zarubin hosting the Moscow. Kremlin. Putin television program on the Rossiya 1 (VGTRK) TV channel, answering a question about the prospects of foreign brands' return to the domestic market in terms of new regions.

Manturov earlier told reporters that only the foreign companies whose presence is beneficial for the domestic market would be allowed to return to it. At the same time, the system of preferences for domestic manufacturers, which has developed in Russia during the period of sanctions pressure, would remain in place if foreign companies return to the Russian market, he said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier instructed the Russian government to work on preferences for Russian companies during the return of their foreign competitors, among other things.

"I ask the government to consider how we can regulate the interaction between our enterprises and those of our competitors in order to provide certain advantages to national manufacturers. Yes, within the framework of the WTO, but nonetheless, difficulties have been created for us, and we can regulate the return of those who want to come back accordingly, while creating and maintaining advantages for our own manufacturers," Putin said during a plenary session of the Future Technologies Forum on Friday.