30 may 2011

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin visits the Tver Excavator Plant and talks to workers there

During his visit to the plant, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin inspected production lines. His guides, foreign experts, told him in detail about production at the plant and showed him a model line of excavators.

Following that, the prime minister saw the outdoor exhibition of road equipment and technology. The exhibition showcased different materials for the production of roadbed and lighting systems, mobile technical laboratories to evaluate roadbed quality as well as concrete dividers and lamp posts made of composite materials, and many other things.

At the exhibition, experts told Putin about new road building technology and projects on constructing communication lines.

After visiting the exhibition Putin talked to the plant's workers. One of the questions raised at the meeting was a proposal to raise the retirement age in the country. "I'm convinced there is no need to raise the retirement age," Putin said. "We can come back to this and look at the realities of the situation again in five, 10 or 15 years."

Putin is convinced the government has enough resources to replenish the Pension Fund by improving tax collection and enhancing the effectiveness of the pension system and labour productivity. He said it is important to consider living standards, which are higher in Europe than in Russia. "Retirement cannot be separated from domestic living standards," he said.

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Representatives of the plant signed two documents in the prime minister's presence: an agreement on a joint venture to produce construction and road equipment in Russia with the American company Terex and a memorandum on a joint venture to manufacture cabins for road construction and special equipment with Germany's Fritzmeier.