DAVOS Russian output to surpass Soviet record: Medvedev |
|
|
|
Published
:
Sat, 27 Jan 2007 13:31
|
DAVOS, Switzerland (AFX) - Russia's output will this year surpass for the first time the maximum level achieved in the Soviet Union, 15 years after the collapse of the Communist bloc, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Saturday.'Some say Russia is starting to resemble the Soviet Union,' Medvedev told world business and political leaders at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort of Davos.'Maybe so,' he added. 'Maybe in part this is the case, but only in one area: this year we will reach the maximum level of GDP reached in the Soviet era'.Medvedev, the front runner to succeed President Vladimir Putinin the 2008 presidential election, also laid out the economic priorities for the Russian government.They include a reduction of the dependence on the commodities industry, improving infrastructure and nurturing a high-skilled workforce.He stressed the need to develop high-tech processing of natural resources, the aerospace sector and to boost exports of intellectual services.The state will invest in 'branches of the economy that require most capital investment,' Medvedev said, while stressing that this did not mean a are birth of the state-controlled economy.'Medvedev noted Russia's per capita Gross Domestic Product in 2006 stood at 7,000 dollars, approximately the same level as Mexico and ranking somewhere around 60th place in the world rankings.However, when calculated in terms of Purchasing Power Parity, which takes into account cost of living, Russia ranks ninth in the world.'Russia is entirely capable in the next two years of occupying sixth place, even surpassing Italy, France and Britain,' Medvedev said.tf.tfn-europe_ukpv@thomson.comafp/adp-gh/pac/paw/pawCOPYRIGHTCopyright AFX News Limited 2006. All rights reserved.The copying, republication or redistribution of AFX News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AFX News.AFX News and AFX Financial News Logo are registered trademarks of AFX News Limited
|
|
|
|
Print this Story
DAVOS Gazprom denies EU 'cartel' charge - UPDATE 