Rosaviakosmos: too early to bury Russian aircraft industry

It is too early to bury the Russian aircraft industry, Valery Voskoboinikov, the deputy director general of Rosaviakosmos, said at the Russian delegation's press conference at the Dubai International Air Show 2003 on Wednesday.

"Those who are collecting flowers to put on the industry's grave are working in vain," he announced. "Over the last four years the production volume in the industry has grown by almost three times, we have overcome the production collapse the peak of which was in 1999," Mr. Voskoboinikov explained.

According to him, the Russian aircraft industry is "optimistic about the future." In this connection he pointed to expanding cooperation with the world's leading aircraft and spacecraft producers, like Boeing and EADS (European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company).

Moreover, Russia is going to take an active part in all representative international air shows in 2004, which testifies to the serious development of the aerospace industry in Russia, he said.