Putin Asserts Authority at RSPP Congress; Calls for Tax System Modernization

President of Russia Vladimir Putin reminded the head of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, Alexander Shokhin, that he is the master at the union’s congress. The broadcast of the head of state’s speech at the event is being carried out by RBC. After Putin’s speech at the event, Shokhin took the floor. «Vladimir Vladimirovich, your protocol said that I should speak from my seat. Although I keep wanting to go to the podium», - Shokhin said to Putin. «Please. You are the host here», - the president replied.



Alexander Shokhin is the president of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP) and the president of the National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE). Over the years, he has held positions as the Minister of Labor of the RSFSR, Deputy Chairman of the Government of the RSFSR for Social Policy, as well as Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Government and Minister of Economy of Russia. During his speech at the event, Putin touched on several topics. In particular, he spoke about the need to adjust the tax system. According to him, modernization will improve the investment climate in Russia. The government, together with business associations, regions, and parliament, are working on this issue, discussing possible parameters, the president said. Putin also stated that Russia will soon experience a shortage of personnel. The head of state emphasized that this cannot be remedied «mechanically through labor migration, importing low-skilled labor from abroad». The president called for finding «other approaches.