Andrey Guryev, member of the Bureau of the RUIE Board, is awarded the Order of Pirogov for his contribution to the fight against COVID-19

Andrey Guryev, member of the Bureau of the RUIE Board, Chair of the RUIE Coordinating Council for Combatting Coronavirus, and President of the Russian Fertilizer Producers Association, has been awarded the Order of Pirogov ‘For significant contribution to the organisation of medical care and the prevention and avoidance of the spread of the coronavirus infection’.

The decree was signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin on 3^rd October 2021, and the prize ceremony was held on 10^th December at the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade. The Order was presented by the Minister Denis Manturov.

During the ceremony, Denis Manturov cited the significant role of domestic business in implementing measures to counteract the spread of COVID-19 and in providing operational support to health institutions during this most challenging period.

As RUIE President Alexander Shokhin, recalled, after the RUIE established a Coordinating Council for Combatting COVID-19, Andrey Guryev was approved as its co-chairman representing large-scale industry, and the Council’s Management Board appointed him head of the Council in October 2021.

“The Council has become an effective platform for developing scenarios to protect the workforces of the country’s largest industrial companies from the coronavirus infection and for exchanging best practices in this field. Another important function of the Council is to synchronise the efforts of federal and regional authorities and big businesses in the fight against the spread of COVID-19. It’s important that large businesses that are of systemic importance to the country’s economy continue to operate stably,” commented the President of the RUIE on the awarding of the Order of Pirogov to Andrey Guryev.

On receiving the high state award Andrey Guryev thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for the honour.

“This Order shows the great appreciation for the business community’s contribution to the fight against the pandemic, united around the RUIE’s Coordinating Council for Combatting Coronavirus. Serving as chair of the Council was an important personal challenge. I would like to thank all my colleagues on the RUIE’s Coordinating Council for their productive work and Alexander Shokhin personally for the trust placed in me.

I would like to mention the Russian Government’s exceptionally well-organised and effective work with businesses, headed by Mikhail Mishustin, and the close cooperation with the Coordinating Council of the Government, the State Council’s Working Group, Rospotrebnadzor and regional authorities. As a result, we were able to provide significant support to Russian medics, who find themselves on the front line in the fight against coronavirus every day,” stressed Andrey Guryev.

The General Director of PhosAgro also thanked the company’s workforce for their resilience during difficult and worrying times and for their strict observance of preventative measures.

“During the pandemic neither PhosAgro nor other members of the RUIE stopped production or investment programmes for a single minute. The Ministry of Industry and Trade, headed by Denis Manturov, conducted unprecedented work to ensure the seamless continuation of operations, maintain production chains, and provide hospitals with oxygen and medicine. Despite the successes in the fight against coronavirus, the situation remains challenging. Businesses continue to mobilise resources to combat the spread of infection. Victory will be ours!” concluded Andrey Guryev.