Half of Russians believe authorities foster foreign investments – poll

File Photo of Outdoor Electronic Sign with Russian Exchange Data

MOSCOW. Feb 12 (Interfax) – Healthcare, heavy industries and agriculture should be the primary areas of foreign investments, respondents told the Public Opinion Foundation in 100 towns and cities in 43 regions on February 2-3.

Sixty-three percent of 1,500 respondents believe Russian authorities are interested in attracting foreign investments, 7% doubt that and 30% know nothing about investment plans of the national administration.

Fifty percent assert that the authorities foster foreign investments, 10% claim the opposite and 40% are hesitant.

Doing business in Russia is easier for foreigners, in the opinion of 20% of the respondents, while 15% have the opposite opinion – “considering high levels of corruption, everyone is trying to rob them.” Twenty-seven percent think business success does not depend on the businessman’s citizenship.

As for which Russian sectors could use foreign investments, the respondents named healthcare (29%), heavy industries (car and machine building- 23%), and agriculture, timber and fishing industries (22%).

Other investment targets suggested by the respondents were construction (16%), light and food industries (12%), science and high-tech production (12%), information technologies, communications and the Internet (11%), sports, tourism and recreation (11%), mining industries and education (9%), transport, logistics (7%), household services (6%), banking, culture, art and others (4%).

Only 18% suppose that foreign investments do more harm than good to Russia, 24% argue the opposite, pointing to material and technological advantages. Twenty-three percent say the effect of foreign investments is neutral, and 35% are unable to answer the question.

Speaking of benefits provided by foreign investments, 7% said they strengthened the national economy, 5% mentioned new jobs, 4% spoke about extra revenues and 2% about new technologies.

Negative consequences included revenue exports (6%), supplanting Russian manufacturers, losing independence and denting the domestic economy (3%).

Comment