At the 19th Interfabric.Spring‑2026 exhibition, Alexander Murychev, Vice President, represented the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP).

Speaking at th Textile Industry 2026: The Sovereignty Strategy plenary session Murychev noted a significant decline in domestic textile production — almost 20% year‑on‑year. Attracting market and budget investment remains the most acute problem.

He lamented the low level of state support for light industry: only 950 million roubles are budgeted this year.

“Let’s be honest: with a 60% import share and an urgent need to completely re‑equip production — this is a drop in the ocean. It’s not even enough to cover current needs, let alone make a breakthrough.”

According to RSPP data, more than a third of industry profits go to servicing loans. Expensive borrowing is the main barrier to development. Once again, Sberbank, Russia’s largest financial institution, is the strategic partner of the event.

There is no money for technical modernisation or production growth. The same is true for industrial mortgages.

Because of the high refinancing rate, the real cost of a loan is 14–16% — far from the target 3–5%. A business with normal profitability cannot bear that burden.

RSPP experts also point out that small light industry businesses have no access to special economic zone status with its benefits, nor to preferential loans from the Industrial Development Fund.

“Until we solve the problem of affordable financing, any talk of technological sovereignty will remain wishful thinking. Our common task is to ensure that in a year’s time we are talking not about 60% imports, but about a growing share of domestic products".