OREANDA-NEWS. January 28, 2009. Rallies in support of the RF Government’s actions in defense of the Russian car market and auto makers are held at KAMAZ on the initiative of the United Russia party within the limits of the All-Russian action.

On 26 January during the dinner break of the first shift the rallies took place at the foundry of KAMAZ-Metallurgy and KAMAZavtotekhnika – the KAMAZ subsidiary production unit in Zainsk city. Earlier, at the end of December, the same rally was held on the initiative of the Trade Union Organization of KAMAZ Inc. in the company’s R&D Center.

It will be recalled that in December Vladimir Putin, RF Prime-Minister, the leader of the United Russia party, visited Naberezhnye Chelny and held a conference at KAMAZ where there were discussed the governmental actions for stabilization and improvement of the situation in the country’s automotive industry. At the meeting Putin announced the measures the Russian Government planned to take in order that the Russian automotive enterprises might go through the crisis and come out of the recession with the least losses. This is, in particular, growth of purchase of the Russian automotive equipment for social sectors, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Emergency Situations, etc. Also, in support of the Russian auto makers, assistance is rendered to local governments when modernizing public transport, communal services, medical services and educational institutions. The measures for restoration of investment demand for commercial vehicles are especially significant. The Federal Government will administer to no less than 1500 automotive enterprises in financing of investment as well. The government is solving the most important task for restoration of customer activity.

The KAMAZ metallurgists who addressed the meeting at the foundry noted that the Russian Government passed from words to deeds immediately. In particular, there were introduced rates of duty practically closing the import of second-hand vehicles of foreign make not meeting the Russian safety and ecology regulations. They supported this and other measures of the federal executive authority and approved the initiatives and actions of the dominant party United Russia for defense of the Russian automotive industry.

Steel founder Yevgeny Tokarev called upon his colleagues not to hope solely for somebody’s help. “We will continue doing our best, – he said, – because we are to profit from making KAMAZ vehicles easy to sell and competitive. One will be glad to purchase good vehicles.”

The industrial and office workers and managers of KAMAZ condemned the efforts of some parties and politicians to prevent realization of the RF Government’s actions which were approved by the United Russia party. According to one of them, “no matter how hard it will be for each of us, we understand that the country’s government won’t leave us and our customers with the crisis which started against our own will.” “Month in, month out KAMAZ increased automobile production and sales volumes and fulfilled its plans till September 2008, – noted the worker. – The support of the government gives hope to us. Hope and belief that we will return to a normal life in the nearest months.”

Vladimir Abramov, Deputy Director General of KAMAZ Inc. of Metallurgy, as he told himself, didn’t plan to make a report at this rally, but took the floor and addressed the people who gathered there and appealed to them to appraise the situation in the right way:

– We don’t ask for money or demand credits. We just ask to support the realization of our production. Taking measures in support of the Russian automotive industry will enable us to keep the former production volumes which in its turn will let us return to the former working pace and worthy wages.

On 27 January rallies in support of the decisions of the RF Government in defense of the Russian automotive industry were held at KAMAZ-Diesel and Kama Frame and Stamping Plant.

Gumer Nuretdinov, Chairman of the Trade Union Committee of KAMAZ Inc., Abakar Gadjimakhmudov, Deputy Director of Quality of OAO KAMAZ-Diesel, and also – production engineer Andrey Kunaev and mechanic Ilnur Fazullin addressed themselves to the people who gathered at KAMAZ-Diesel. Mottoes “KAMAZ is worthy of the best” and “Diesel workers are for the Russian automotive industry” reflected the workers’ general feeling.

The trade union leader of KAMAZ called upon the employees, in spite of today’s difficulties, to continue production at the former highest level: “We know that we can produce vehicles of high quality. Our KAMAZ vehicles are the best in the world which was again proved by our racing drivers’ victory at the Dakar rally. And we must say about it aloud. We say “Yes!” to quality Russian vehicles.”

At the rallies held at KAMAZ there was accepted a resolution which will be sent to the RF Government. It is stated there that support and development of the industrial sector is not the task of only the crisis period, and hope is expressed that the Government and the United Russia party will continue the policy of reinforcement and development of the Russian automotive industry after the crisis as well.

“Russia’s transportation security is the most important constituent part of the general safety of our country, – the unanimously approved at the rallies resolution says. – We are ready to execute our customers’ orders in proper time, always broaden a model line and output high-quality production at world level. KAMAZ and the Russian automotive industry are ready to solve the country’s transport problems.”