Johnson's Russia List
#8059
11 February 2004
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A CDI Project
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#5
Gref urges demonopolization of Russian economy
DOMODEDOVO, February 10 (Itar-Tass) -- Russia's Minister of Economic
Development and Trade German Gref has pointed to the diversification of the
economy and risks reduction as one of the central tasks of economic
development.
"It is very wrong all of our eggs are in one, raw-materials-production
basket," Gref said addressing an audience of newly elected State Duma
members, who gathered for a seminar at a country retreat near Moscow.
To accelerate economic growth the pegging of monetary and credit policies
to the raw materials sector must be eased.
Gref said Russia's economic development could not be called stable as long
as the oil, gas and raw materials export bias remained.
Upgrading and perfecting economic policies requires effective anti-trust
measures. As long as the domestic market is dominated by big monopolies,
accompanied by a narrow circle of affiliated business structures, sufficient
economic freedom will remain unachievable, Gref warned.
"Demonopolization of markets is the sole means of improving the situation,"
he said.
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#6
Capital flight from Russia down to 2.9 bln dlr - Gref.
DOMODEDOVO, February 10 (Itar-Tass) -- Capital flight from Russia has
developed a steady downtrend, the Minister of Economic Development and
Trade German Gref said Tuesday.
Last year the exodus of capital from the country eased by 88 percent as
compared with that in the previous 10-12 years to 2.9 billion dollars.
Speaking at a seminar for State Duma members Gref said up to 20 billion
dollars left Russia annually for the past decade.
In 2000 capital flight stood at 25 billion dollars, and in 2002, about 8
billion.
Gref attributes this to a better investment climate and stabilization of
the economy.
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#7
Gref says Russia unlikely to join WTO within next 2 years
DOMODEDOVO, MOSCOW REGION, Feb 10 (Prime-Tass) -- It is unlikely that
Russia will be able to join the World Trade Organization (WTO) within the
next 2 years, Russia's Economic Development and Trade Minister German Gref
told a meeting of newly elected deputies of the State Duma, the lower
chamber of parliament, ITAR-TASS reported Tuesday.
"It is certain that Russia will not be able to enter the WTO in 2004, and
it is still questionable if it will be possible in 2005, " Gref said.
Maxim Medvedkov Deputy Economic Development and Trade Minister said last
week that Russia will not join the WTO before December 31, 2004, but would
be able to complete the entry talks by this date.
But Gref noted that the Russian economy is suffering from not being a member.
"The goal of the Russian government is to find a niche on the international
markets for Russian producers," Gref said.
Medvedkov said last week that the next round of WTO talks is expected to be
held in Geneva in March or April.
This and next month Russian officials plan to hold bilateral talks with the
E.U., Israel and Argentina.
Russia has long been negotiating for WTO entry, which is being delayed due
to a number of disagreements with major WTO members over the energy,
telecom, banking and services industries and other issues.
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#8
RUSSIA TO SEE CAPITAL AMNESTY
MOSCOW, February 10 (RIA Novosti) - A capital amnesty will be held in
Russia in the next few years, Deputy Economic Development Minister Arkady
Dvorkovich reported.
"I am sure this measure will be adopted sooner or later, the question is
when and how," he said, speaking at the "directors club" of the Russian
Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs.
"It is important that businessmen understand it will be done only once.
Otherwise it will be to no avail," he explained.
According to him, "the ministry is not only interested in the retrieval of
the money which was lost as a result of tax evasion and the outflow of
capital." It is important that they would work "on a legal basis" afterwards.
"The amnesty can serve as a stimulating instrument for the economy, but not
as a panacea," Dvorkovich believes.
The deputy minister noted that the capital amnesty would hardly be held
this year - most likely in a year or two. It should be done "very
carefully," he emphasized.
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#9
Russian federal bureaucracy to be cut by 30 percent
AP
February 10, 2003
Russia's bloated federal bureaucracy will be cut by at least 30 percent
under a long-awaited government reform, a top official said Tuesday,
according to Russian news agencies.
Deputy Prime Minister Boris Alyoshin said that part of the government's
control and inspection powers would be handed over to non-governmental
organizations, the ITAR-Tass news agency reported. He said that the reform
would begin this year and the first effects would be felt in 2005.
Alyoshin predicted that the reform would fundamentally change the
relationship between the state and business, ITAR-Tass said. Russian
entrepreneurs complain of endless administrative responsibilities and
interference by government inspectors, and President Vladimir Putin has
said that the excessive bureaucracy is stifling the nation's economic growth.
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