ST. PETERSBURG, June 6 (RIA Novosti)-Russia's defense minister proposed Tuesday setting up ship- and submarine-building holdings as part of a drive to make the industry more competitive on global markets.
President Vladimir Putin proposed creating a ship-building holding in his May 10 state of the nation address along the lines of one that has already consolidated the aircraft industry.
Sergei Ivanov, who is also a deputy prime minister, told journalists in Russia's second city that two holdings for surface and sub-surface vessels should be set up, though he downplayed the potential status of the bodies.
"I would draw [people's] attention not so much to the holdings' ownership [private or state] as to how effectively they work," he said.
