MOSCOW (Realist English). Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin held a working meeting on August 20 with Vyacheslav Petushenko, Chairman of the state-owned road company Avtodor, to discuss the company’s performance and its role in advancing the national project Infrastructure for Life.
Mishustin stressed the strategic importance of federal highways for economic growth and regional development, citing President Vladimir Putin’s target to bring 85% of the country’s core road network up to modern standards within six years. Petushenko reported that Avtodor had built more than 3,000 km of new high-speed roads since its creation, financed in part by over ₽1 trillion in non-budget funds.
He highlighted progress on the flagship M-12 “Vostok” highway from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok, including a recently completed 275 km section across Bashkiria, Perm Krai and Sverdlovsk Region, which cut travel time for freight trucks by four hours and for cars by six. Nearly half of the project was financed through sovereign wealth fund allocations and bond issues, with cost savings achieved by using local materials and new technologies.
Mishustin emphasized that road construction is a catalyst for economic activity and tourism, and called for strict adherence to deadlines and safety standards. The Prime Minister also raised the issue of workforce development, urging Avtodor to expand cooperation with universities and vocational programs.
Petushenko confirmed that the company is already partnering with leading institutions, opening specialized classes for school students and creating targeted admissions for future road engineers. Avtodor also runs professional skills competitions, which this year will include international participants from Belarus, Kazakhstan and China.
Mishustin concluded that attracting young talent is essential: “This industry offers not only good salaries, but also the chance to see the whole country and make a major contribution to Russia’s economic growth.”
