MOSCOW, April 24. /TASS/. The planned growth rate of the Russian economy of 2% this year is quite achievable, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said at a meeting of the board of the Ministry of Economic Development.
According to Medvedev, by the end of the year, the positive dynamics that have emerged earlier in the Russian economy will become even more noticeable. "In any case, the earlier figures are still quite achievable, including GDP growth of up to 2%," the Prime Minister said. He also noted good rates of progress towards the optimal level of inflation for Russia and low unemployment.
Medvedev said, commenting on the topic of investment, "After a long investment pause, entrepreneurs are ready for new projects," as well as foreign investors. "Our task is to attract money to innovative development, to the most promising sectors, enterprises. In order to do this, we need to remove redundant administrative restrictions, which is systematic work that we are doing, moving forward, and to offer private investors significant incentives and guarantees," Medvedev said.
In particular, Medvedev spoke about development of public-private partnership, and this mechanism already proving itself. According to the prime minister, more than 1,800 such projects are being developed.
Two new territories of advanced development
Medvedev said that there will be two new territories of advanced development in Russia - in Nikolayevsk-on-Amur and Sarov.
"We are getting more and more territories of advanced development. At the moment there are 34 of them and I have just signed two resolutions on creating territories for advanced development - in Nikolayevsk-on-Amur, in the Far East region, the Khabarovsk Territory, and in Sarov - that is in the Nizhny Novgorod region," the Prime Minister said.
Medvedev said that ADTs are one of the government’s investment tools.
"We should admit that there are regions that have learned how to use these new opportunities properly, they already have a visible result," the head of the Cabinet noted.
Medvedev reiterated that the business environment should be comfortable, predictable.
"The business climate largely depends on how the state works, including the quality of state and municipal services," the Prime Minister said.
He stressed the authorities are developing a system of multifunctional centers (MFCs) and expanding the list of services they provide.
"It turned out to be a very successful state project," Medvedev said, adding that the project was coordinated by the Economic Development Ministry.
Medvedev recalled that 39 regions launched pilot projects on creation of the MFCs for businesses.
The Law on Advanced Development Territories (ADT) came into force in spring of 2015. It provides preferential treatment for businesses that become residents of such territories.
Initially it was planned to set up such territories only in Russia’s Fra East but later the Russian authorities decided to establish them also in other regions of the country.
Final version of action plan on economy until 2025
The final version of the action plan to speed up economic growth in Russia until 2025 will soon be submitted to the government, according to Medvedev.
"It is important that experts, representatives of the business community participate in this work as usual, all constructive proposals should be taken into account when preparing the final version. It will be submitted to the government soon. We do not have much time left, so we need to complete this work," Medvedev said.