The first meeting of the mechanical engineering cluster in Irkutsk: new horizons for entering foreign markets under the Made in Russia brand

On April 25, the first meeting of the territorial machine-building cluster took place at My Business center in Irkutsk, bringing together representatives of business, science and government.

On April 25, the first meeting of the territorial machine-building cluster took place at My Business center in Irkutsk, bringing together representatives of business, science and government. This event became an important step in the development of the industry, opening up new prospects for cluster participants, including those related to entering foreign sales markets.

It should be noted that by the end of 2024, the industrial production index in the Irkutsk region was 109.5%, which is almost twice as high as the Russian average. The region is actively working to reduce the share of import in the gross product, and 24 out of 45 types of imported goods have already been successfully replaced by local products.

At the meeting, participants discussed a number of issues concerning the prospects for the cluster's development. The focus was on the production capacities of the Irkutsk National Research Technical University, which could become an important resource for small businesses. Participants learned about grant support measures for small technology companies and opportunities offered by the Made in Russia voluntary certification system, which is being developed by Russian Export Center (REC, VEB.RF Group).

The possibilities of promoting high-tech products with the help of Made in Russia voluntary certification system were noted by the Head of the Representative Office of the Russian Export Center in Irkutsk, Yana Stanevich: "Made in Russia certification plays a key role in promoting products on foreign markets. It not only confirms the improved characteristics of products, but also helps to build consumer trust. This is an important step towards increasing the share of Russian goods on the market and strengthening the positions of domestic manufacturers."

In this regard, the Irkutsk region pays much attention to the development of international economic relations. In 2024, the volume of foreign trade turnover of the Irkutsk region increased by 11%, which indicates a growing interest in local products on foreign markets.

At the same time, standard forms of doing business are no longer effective in the conditions of a rapidly changing economic environment. The participants of the meeting discussed the need to adapt to new areas, such as industrial tourism technologies, which can help in solving the issues of selling products and attracting personnel. An important aspect was the formation of creative industries that can contribute to the development of innovative solutions.

Sergey Kakaulin, Head of the Industry Department of the Ministry of Economic Development and Industry of the Irkutsk Region, emphasized the importance of technology and the need to move from signal to demand-inducing marketing. He noted that understanding the fundamental characteristics of a product can significantly increase its competitiveness on the market.

“When discussing export, we often focus on the existing market, while it is also necessary to study the opportunities, as many partners simply do not know about the advantages of our products,” Sergey Kakaulin.

To date, 26 participants have registered in the mechanical engineering cluster, including manufacturers of professional construction tools, equipment and rolled metal products. Following the meeting, another 6 companies applied for participation, which indicates a growing interest in the initiative.

Irina Malakshinova, Head of the Cluster Development Center of the My Business Foundation hopes for fruitful cooperation between the participants, which will allow them to reach new heights in the development of the mechanical engineering industry in the Irkutsk Region.

The meeting became not only a platform for sharing experience and networking, but also an important step towards creating an effective ecosystem that promotes business development and innovative technologies. The event offered its participants new knowledge, contacts and inspiration for further work.

Russian Export Center (REC, VEB.RF Group) is a state institution that supports non-resource, non-energy export. It provides companies from various industries with both financial and non-financial assistance at all stages of entering international markets, including within the framework of the International Cooperation and Export project. The REC Group also includes EXIAR, EXIMBANK OF RURRIS and the School of Export. Most of REC services are available online on My Export state digital platform.