MOSCOW, February 19. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has tasked the cabinet and the Central Bank with focusing particularly on strengthening the country’s financial, economic and technological sovereignty, as well as developing international payments, this year, according to the information released on the website of the Kremlin.

The instruction was given following the meeting of the Council on strategic development and national projects on December 21, 2023.

"The government of the Russian Federation together with executive bodies of Russia’s constituent entities and the Bank of Russia <…> should give special consideration to solving this year the following key tasks: strengthening of economic, technological and financial sovereignty of the Russian Federation, focusing on development of international payments and mechanisms of project and equity financing for the purpose of funding prior investment projects," according to the list.

The Russian president also tasked the cabinet and the regulator with easing tension on the labor market, through raising the efficiency of the system of professional education and career broadening programs among other things, as well as fixing the positive rate of growth of capital investment.