ULAN-UDE, September 7. /TASS/. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said it is necessary to develop small and medium-sized businesses, so its contribution to the economy is much higher than currently.

"It is clear why we pay so much attention to small and medium-sized businesses - it is the presence of small and medium-sized businesses that makes economy stable," Prime Minister said at the meeting with business representatives. According to him, currently "small and medium business accounts for about 20 million jobs." "The number is not small, but on the other hand, it is not very big, because we understand - in most European countries, other continents, small businesses takes on an even greater load," Medvedev said. According to him, "The task to develop small and medium-sized businesses remains relevant to the state and economy. We would like to see a significantly bigger contributing from small and medium-sized businesses to the gross domestic product."

Medvedev recalled recently adopted decisions to support business. According to him, implementation of the business navigator project might help small and medium-sized businesses. "So far, it is available in 76 cities with populations over 250,000 people, but from the beginning of next year the number will increase to 170 cities with populations over 100,000 people," Medvedev said. He added that in the future the program will be extended to other locations, so that "the business navigator was relevant in almost the entire territory of Russia.".