Russia’s Duma passed a law naming 1,151 companies as strategic that will entitle them to state help during the coronavirus pandemic crisis. The names of the companies are a mix of state and privately owned and cover the whole country as well as most sectors.
Almost half of the companies on the list (523) fall under the purview of the Ministry of Trade and are involved in exports of a wide range of goods ranging from metals, to chemicals and on to textiles. Most of the major automotive producers are included. Gold mines like Polyus Gold and heavy industry concerns like United Aircraft Corporation are listed.
Many of Russia’s leading retailers made the list too, including German-owned Metro cash and carry. Tech and e-commerce giants Yandex, Mail.ru Group, Wildberries and Kaspersky Labs feature prominently.
In general the government policy seems to be that it will support companies that are strategically important to the economy such as food producers and raw material exporters, but also companies that are big employers as a way of meeting its social aid targets.