Category: Economy, Business, Investment, Trade

Interfax: Ombudsman: Khodorkovsky pardon unlikely to have much effect on Russian business

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, YUKOS, Khodorkovsky
Boris Titov file photo

MOSCOW. Dec 23 (Interfax) – The Russian president’s commissioner for entrepreneurs’ rights has argued that President Vladimir Putin’s pardoning former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky last week is unlikely to exercise any serious effect on business in Russia. “Of course, for Russian business it is not a big but a positive piece of news. However, this won’t radically affect the overall […]

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Interfax: Over $1 trillion moved out of Russia to offshore areas in 20 years – Federation Council Chair Matviyenko

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade
Valentina Matviyenko file photo

MOSCOW. Dec 25 (Interfax) – More than $1 trillion has been siphoned off from the Russian economy to offshore territories in the past 20 years, Russian Federation Council Chair Valentina Matviyenko said on Wednesday. “According to estimates by numerous experts, over $1 trillion worth of Russian capitals has been funneled to offshore jurisdictions in 20 years,” Matviyenko said in an […]

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Interfax: Consumer demand the Russian economy’s main driving force – Ulyukayev

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade
Alexei Ulyukayev file photo

MOSCOW. Dec 25 (Interfax) – Consumer demand is the main driving force of a Russian economy that is slowing for internal reasons, Economic Development Minister Alexei Ulyukayev said in an interview with the Rossiya 24 TV channel. “The main problems are our domestic ones. Low investment activity now complements export limitations. The only part of this engine that is in […]

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RIA Novosti: Russian ex-finance minister sceptical about aid to Ukraine, other issues

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War
Ukraine Map and Flag

(RIA Novosti – December 23, 2013) Russia’s former Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Aleksey Kudrin has expressed concern that Ukraine may spend the funds provided by Russia only to cover its day-do-day expenses, in which case Kyiv will need more economic assistance in two years’ time. Kudrin was speaking at his end-of-year news conference at Russian state news agency […]

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Russian Corporate Management Culture Differs in Priorities from Global Peers

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade
Empty Boardroom

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – December 20, 2013) Nine of out ten employees of the world’s most successful companies say that their supervisors are encouraging staff to focus on work effectiveness, while less than half of Russian companies’ top managers do so, a survey released Friday showed. The “best companies for leadership” annual survey by the Hay Group management consulting […]

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TRANSCRIPT (continued): News conference of Vladimir Putin

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections

(Kremlin.ru – December 19, 2013) [DJ: Putin video http://eng.kremlin.ru/video/1680 with English interpretation] QUESTION: Jill Dougherty, CNN. Mr Putin, I worked in Russia in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and when I came back, I noticed that a lot of attention is being given to religion and moral values. I don’t remember it being like that. I would like to […]

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Interfax: Klepach: Russia needs new measures to spur growth; current measures insufficient

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade
Andrei Klepach file photo

MOSCOW. Dec 20 (Interfax) – Russia needs to enact new measures to spur economic growth since the measures that have already been approved are insufficient, Deputy Economic Development Minister Andrei Klepach said at a briefing in Moscow on Thursday. “Those measures that have been approved are insufficient to accelerate growth. Therefore, I think that enactment of new measures is both […]

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OUTLOOK 2014: Russia’s growth model runs out of steam (excerpt)

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade
File Photo of Cash, Coins, Line Graph

(Business New Europe – bne.eu – Ben Aris in Moscow – December 20, 2013) [Full text with charts here http://www.bne.eu/story5634/OUTLOOK_2014_Russias_growth_model_runs_out_of_steam] bne: this report is in three parts. See the end of the page for links to the rest. Overview * Economic overview 2013 was a annus horribilis for Russia. Indeed, it was probably the worst year the country has been […]

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New AmCham chief still feels Russia’s pull

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Kremlin and St. Basil's

(Moscow News – themoscownews.com – Nathan Gray – December 18, 2013) It was more than business that pulled banker Alexis Rodzianko to Russia in 1995. Eight decades earlier, his great-grandfather had chaired two sessions of the pre-Revolutionary Duma and conducted abdication negotiations with Tsar Nicholas II. Now Rodzianko had competing job offers between New York, London and Moscow. “The call […]

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RIA Novosti: Top Russian Companies Pledge to Reduce Offshore Dependency

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade
Cash, Calculator, Pen

MOSCOW, December 19 (RIA Novosti) ­ Several top Russian companies have announced plans to reduce their use of offshore holding structures after President Vladimir Putin repeated calls for “deoffshorization” last week, according to a Russian newspaper report Thursday. Aluminum producer Rusal, telecoms giant MTS, truck maker Kamaz, state-owned hydroelectric conglomerate RusHydro and iron ore miner Metalloinvest have all made commitments […]

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Interfax: Fears for Russian banking sector stability “groundless” – Central Bank head

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade
Elvira Nabiullina file photo

(Interfax – Moscow, December 18, 2013) Russia’s banking sector has improved its financial indicators in 2013 and concerns over its stability are groundless, Elvira Nabiullina, chairwoman of the Central Bank of Russia, said on Wednesday [18 December] at a conference organized by the Association of Russian Banks. “Concerns over the stability of Russia’s banking sector are absolutely groundless,” she said. […]

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Novi Russky RIP

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade
File Photo of Man Placing Stack of Large Bills into Inside Pocket of Suitcoat

(Business New Europe – bne.eu – Ben Aris in Moscow – December 18, 2013) Russian joke from the 1990s: Two Novy Russkis (New Russians) meet on the street. “Nice tie. How much did it cost?” the first asks the second. “Its Hermes. It cost a $100!” answers the second. “You’re crazy! I know where you can buy the same one […]

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Five Stories From Put-Upon Small Business in Moscow

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade
Aerial View of Moscow From Beyond Stadium, file photo

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Alexander Panin – December 18, 2013) Before Mayor Sergei Sobyanin came to power in 2010, Guram Bolkvadze, a businessman from Georgia, owned 24 kiosks at bus stops across Moscow. Then one day, he was given just a few hours to get his goods out of the shops before the bulldozers came in and leveled 18 […]

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The weak ruble is a signal to buy shares … or more caviar

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade
File Photo of Cash, Coins, Line Graph

(Russia Beyond the Headlines – rbth.ru – Viktor Kuzmin, special to RBTH – December 18, 2013) The ruble’s value decreased 11 percent in 2013, making it a good time for foreign investors to invest or spend more money in Russia. With the Russian ruble devalued by 11 percent, experts say there are opportunities for foreign investors to earn money on […]

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RIA Novosti: Russia Condemns Pressure on Ukraine to Turn Towards Europe

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Europe, EU
EU Map

MOSCOW, December 18 (RIA Novosti) ­ Russia is surprised by blatant attempts to pressure Ukraine into signing an association agreement with the European Union, Russia’s foreign minister said Wednesday. Sergei Lavrov said that pressure was continuing despite Kiev’s clear choice to develop closer ties with Moscow. He spoke a day after President Vladimir Putin agreed to cut the price of […]

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Ukraine, Russia deal is a bandage not a remedy

CIS, Customs Union, Eurasian Union, Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Ukraine Map and Flag

(Business New Europe – bne.eu – Lilit Gevorgyan, IHS Global – December 18, 2013) Any form of aid is probably going to be a bandage on Ukraine’s economic troubles rather than a serious remedy. These troubles are a result of a toxic combination of domestic macroeconomic policy failures and unfavorable external demand for Ukrainian undiversified exports, which are heavily dependent […]

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Caught in the Bear Trap: why Russia never grows

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade
Empty Boardroom

(Business New Europe – bne.eu – December 17, 2013) Below find the link to a new paper from academics Clifford G Gaddy and Barry W Ickes, the men that brought us the term “virtual economy” in the 1990s the defining idea of the Yeltsin-era. In this new paper the thesis is that Russia suffers from the oil curse, but the […]

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Interfax: No drastic shift in Russia’s business climate made so far – presidential aide

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Cash, Coins, Line Graph

(Interfax – December 16, 2013) Russian presidential aide on economic issues Andrey Belousov has said that the efforts aimed at improving Russia’s business climate have so far not led to a breakthrough, the privately-owned Russian news agency Interfax reported on 16 December. “The euphoria we felt due to [Russia’s] advancement in the Doing Business ranking by almost 20 percentage points […]

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Interfax: Kremlin aide says reasons economic growth measures not working must be analyzed

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Cash, Coins, Line Graph

MOSCOW. Dec 17 (Interfax) – The reasons why measures to support economic growth are not working and why interest rates are not coming down need to be analyzed, Andrei Belousov, a Russian presidential aide, told reporters. “As regards [November] industrial output dynamics, the result is of course negative,” Belousov said. This is partly because the markets for metals, both ferrous […]

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The lower depths in Russia today

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Life in Russia, Culture, Arts
Kremlin and St. Basil's

(opendemocracy.net – December 14, 2013 – Ekaterina Loushnikova) Ekaterina Loushnikova is radio and print journalist based in the city of Kirov Over a century after Maksim Gorky’s famous play about homeless people ­ ‘The Lower Depths’ ­ Ekaterina Loushnikova has been looking around her home city of Kirov to see if anything has changed. The church porch I stood in […]

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Russian CEOs Cautiously Optimistic About Future Growth, Study Says

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade
File Photo of Cash, Coins, Line Graph

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – December 13, 2013) Chief Executive Officers from Russian companies are generally upbeat about the current state of Russia’s economy, but a large proportion have only moderate expectations for its future development prospects, a study conducted by executive search firm Stanton Chase International found. Over 85 percent of the survey’s participants assessed 2013 as successful, but […]

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Interfax: Foreign business more concerned about psychological, political aspects in Russia – official

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade
Igor Shuvalov file photo

(Interfax – December 16, 2013) Major foreign business has been recently concerned mostly about the psychological and political aspects in Russia, not with the business climate itself, Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov said on Monday when speaking at the conference “100 Steps Towards Favorable Investment Climates. Achievements and New Challenges” organized by the Vedomosti newspaper. “I have recently […]

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Housing Still the ‘Dream’ and Frequently Out of Reach

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – December 16, 2013) Affordable housing remains a dream for most Russian families, whose average monthly income is not enough for a mortgage to buy even a half of a two-bedroom apartment, according to research conducted by Finexpertiza consulting firm. A survey by the Public Opinion Foundation, showed that a two-bedroom apartment is the “Russian dream,” […]

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Survey Underscores the Death of the New Russian

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade
Cash, Calculator, Pen

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Alexander Panin – December 16, 2013) The era of the brash New Russian has ended. Neither heavy gold chains nor massive Rolex watches enthrall the Russian consumer as they did at the dawn of capitalism in the 1990s, although quality is preferred and people are willing to pay for it, according to a survey released […]

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Interfax: Kremlin aide sees no major breakthrough in improving Russia’s business climate

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade
File Photo of Cash, Coins, Line Graph

(Interfax – December 16, 2013) Russia has not yet managed to achieve a radical breakthrough on the issue of improving its business climate, the Russian president’s aide on economic issues, Andrei Belousov believes. “The euphoria from the nearly 20 percent advancement in the Doing Business rating passed about three hours after we found out the results,” Belousov said on Monday […]

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Interfax: Companies registered offshore will pay Russian taxes, receive no govt support – Putin

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Cash, Coins, Line Graph

MOSCOW. Dec 12 (Interfax) – Companies with Russian assets that are registered in foreign jurisdictions have to pay taxes according to Russian law, while at the same time will receiving no government support, state contracts, or VEB credits, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said. “As nothing [has been done about this] in this sphere [‘de-offshoring’ the economy] this year, I […]

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Criteria Set for Gauging State Manager Efficiency

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Empty Boardroom

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – December 13, 2013) Senior managers at state companies can review proposed key performance indicators, or KPIs, for the quality of their work, which have been published on the website of the Federal Property Management Agency, a news report said Thursday. President Vladimir Putin authorized the development of KPIs for senior managers of state companies during […]

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Tough regulation challenges Russian banking business

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade
Cash, Calculator, Pen

(Russia Beyond the Headlines – rbth.ru – Alexandra Kulikova, special to RBTH  – December 12, 2013) In early December Adam Smith Conferences held the 20th anniversary Russian Banking Forum in London aimed at looking at what the future holds for Russia’s banks. The timing of the Russian Banking Forum this year was perfect to have a feel of the expert […]

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Interfax: ‘De-offshoring’ Russian economy will yield ‘tens of billions’ in additional revenue – Siluanov

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade
File Photo of Cash, Coins, Line Graph

MOSCOW. Dec 12 (Interfax) – Initiatives to “de-offshore” the Russian economy, as voiced in President Vladimir Putin’s annual address to the Federal Assembly on Thursday, will make it possible to secure additional budget revenue totaling “tens of billions of rubles,” Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said. “I think it will be tens of billions of rubles,” Siluanov told journalists on Thursday. […]

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Interfax: United Russia: economic focus of presidential address derives from challenges faced by Russia

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Vladimir Putin at Podium Gesturing

MOSCOW. Dec 12 (Interfax) – The economic focus of the Russian president’s address to the Federal Assembly derives from the challenges faced by contemporary Russia and some of the presidential ideas will determine the national development vector for the next few years to come, State Duma deputy, United Russia General Council Deputy Secretary Olga Batalina said. “The address was largely […]

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Interfax: Communists unhappy with Putin advocacy of “liberal economic model”

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Kremlin and St. Basil's

MOSCOW. Dec 12 (Interfax) – One of the leaders of Russia’s Communist Party (KPRF) has slammed President Vladimir Putin for allegedly hyping a “liberal economic model” but credited him with “a desire to pull the political and economic train out of the station called Stagnation.” Ivan Melnikov, KPRF first deputy leader and first deputy chairman of the State Duma, was […]

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Putin calls for liberal reforms

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections, Regions, Cities, Municipalities
Map of Russia

(Business New Europe – bne.eu – MOSCOW BLOG – December 13, 2013) Russian President Vladimir Putin gave his state of the nation speech on December 12 where he laid out his plans for the coming year. In a nutshell he called for decentralisation and for the regions to take more responsibility for promoting their local economies. These speeches are important […]

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Putin, Facing Sputtering Economy, Declares a Tax Crackdown

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade
File Photo of Cash, Coins, Line Graph

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber – December 13, 2013) President Vladimir Putin capped off a year of aggressively seeking to fill the government’s coffers by announcing Thursday that the government would begin to tax Russian offshore companies and no longer support foreign-registered enterprises. Praising Russia’s improving business environment, Putin also used his annual Constitution Day speech to highlight […]

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Interfax: Kudrin agrees with Putin that internal reasons to blame for slowdown

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade
File Photo of Cash, Coins, Line Graph

MOSCOW. Dec 12 (Interfax) – Former Russian Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin agrees with President Vladimir Putin that the reasons for the economic slowdown in Russia are internal, rather than external in nature. “The president absolutely correctly noted that the reasons for our economic stagnation are internal,” Kudrin wrote on Twitter on Thursday. He also agreed with the view Putin stated […]

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Euromaidan: Can’t Ukraine and Russia just get along?

CIS, Customs Union, Eurasian Union, Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Europe, EU, Oil, Gas, Energy, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War
Maidan Square file photo

(Moscow News – moscownews.com – Anna Arutunyan – December 11, 2013) With thousands still protesting in Kiev’s streets after Ukraine suspended plans to sign a trade association agreement with the European Union, beleaguered Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych is still mulling whom to side with for closer economic cooperation – Russia or Europe. Here are six things Russian President Vladimir Putin […]

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Economic amnesty applied to almost 1,500 people already – commissioner Titov

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Economy, Business, Investment, Trade
Boris Titov file photo

MOSCOW. Dec 9 (Interfax) – The economic amnesty declared in Russia has been applied to almost 1,500 people already, Russian business commissioner Boris Titov said. “As of today, a total of 1,479 people have been amnestied,” Titov said during a conference in Moscow on Monday. The possibilities of the amnesty are not exhausted yet, Titov said. “We are not completing […]

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Ulyukayev says wrong to give overly optimistic forecasts

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade
File Photo of Cash, Coins, Line Graph

MOSCOW. Dec 9 (Interfax) – The Russian Ministry of Economic Development says it considers it wrong to give unrealistically upbeat forecasts, Economic Development Minister Alexei Ulyukayev told journalists in Moscow on Monday. Ulyukayev was commenting on a statement by presidential aide on economic issues Andrei Belousov that the Economic Development Ministry and Finance Ministry are not looking for additional reserves […]

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The cost of doing business in Moscow

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade
Aerial View of Moscow From Beyond Stadium, file photo

(Russia Beyond the Headlines – rbth.ru – Yulia Ponomareva, RBTH – December 6, 2013) Foreign entrepreneurs talk about the pros and cons of working in Moscow. In an effort to find more ways to attract foreign investors to Russia’s capital, Moscow authorities asked several current expat businessmen to give their assessment of the pros and cons of starting a business […]

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Ministry Proposes Easing Corporate Governance Rules

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade
Empty Boardroom

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – December 9, 2013) The Economic Development Ministry plans to relax requirements for board approval of various business deals and transactions, Interfax reported Monday. The changes are a part of the ministry’s effort to create an international financial center in the Russian Federation, said an explanatory note that came with a bill amending the existing federal […]

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Suburbs Await Transformation Into Hubs in a New Polycentric Moscow

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Life in Russia, Culture, Arts, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Aerial View of Moscow From Beyond Stadium, file photo

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Lena Smirnova – December 9, 2013) Moscow will get a new master plan by 2015 to reflect its forthcoming transformation into a polycentric city, in which peripheral areas become alternative hubs for work and cultural activities, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said at the third annual Moscow Urban Forum. Wrapping up on Saturday, the forum brought together […]

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Putin Stays Firm on Fulfilling Promises

Budget, Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Vladimir Putin at Valdai Club 2013 Meeting, Adapted from Screenshot of Valdai Club Video at youtube.com

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Anatoly Medetsky – December 6, 2013) President Vladimir Putin on Thursday said the government would have to improve the country’s economic performance in order to fulfill his campaign promises. He also complained that his tap water was sometimes brown from rusty pipes. Putin’s decrees from May last year, which seek to raise living standards, have […]

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Interfax: Russia rises 14 places in Forbes list of Best Countries for Business

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade
Empty Boardroom

MOSCOW. Dec 5 (Interfax) – Russia jumped 14 places in Forbes’ list of the Best Countries for Business in 2013, to 91st place between the Philippines and Paraguay. Forbes noted significant improvement in trade freedom (78th place) and innovation (74th) in Russia. On the other hand, “Russia’s long-term challenges also include a shrinking workforce, rampant corruption, and underinvestment in infrastructure,” […]

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Putin and Medvedev Lament Rusty Tap Water in Their Houses

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Environment
File Photo of Water Facet with Drop of Water Coming Out

(RIA Novosti/Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – December 6, 2013) Russia’s top brass are not immune from the same problems faced by ordinary Russians, it turns out, after the president and prime minister admitted to having rusty tap water from time to time. “Can you imagine: Even my tap water is sometimes rusty,” President Vladimir Putin said Thursday at a conference […]

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RIA Novosti: Russia Expects ‘Big Problems’ for Budget After 2016 – Finance Minister Siluanov

Budget, Economy, Business, Investment, Trade
File Photo of Cash, Coins, Line Graph

MOSCOW, December 6 (RIA Novosti) ­ Russia’s Finance Ministry predicted serious difficulties Friday for the budget in 2016 and 2017 as slowing economic growth means there will be insufficient funds available to honor spending commitments. Short term and long term growth forecasts for the Russian economy have been cut repeatedly this year, with officials warning Russia is entering a period […]

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Investors fear recent bank closers

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade
File Photo of Cash, Coins, Line Graph

(Russia Beyond the Headlines – rbth.ru – Marina Maksimova, special to RBTH – Deccember 5, 2013) The Russian Central Bank has revoked the license of several large banks as part of what it says is a fight against corruption and a shadow economy. Banking industry experts are worried that the Central Bank’s efforts to clean up Russia’s shadow economy could […]

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Interfax: Putin blasts proposals for improving business conditions as ‘ministerial red tape’

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Empty Boardroom

NOVO-OGARYOVO. Dec 4 (Interfax) – President Vladimir Putin criticized the slow pace at which planned improvements to business conditions in Russia are being implemented. “Unfortunately, one-third of the measures in the approved road map have not been implemented on time. A whole host of proposals from business are stuck undergoing inter-ministerial coordination. Occasionally, the ministries propose limiting themselves to purely […]

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Interfax: Putin rules out more taxes on ordinary citizens to resolve business problems

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade
Cash, Calculator, Pen

NOVO-OGARYOVO. Dec 4 (Interfax) – President Vladimir Putin ruled out the idea of boosting the tax burden on ordinary citizens in order to resolve problems facing entrepreneurs. The president criticized a proposal to collect additional budget funds to create infrastructure for housing construction, for example, by introducing an excise tax on soda pop. “Don’t do that. This means that a […]

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The curious case of the Red Square suitcase

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Life in Russia, Culture, Arts
Kremlin and St. Basil's

(Moscow News – themoscownews.com – By Anna Arutunyan – December 4, 2013) The Louis Vuitton pavilion controversy highlighted lack of transparency in managing areas surrounding the Kremlin As workers dismantled a giant Louis Vuitton suitcase that went up suddenly on Red Square last week, just who authorized the project and who issued orders for it to be taken down remained […]

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Interfax: May 2012 decrees set targets for all Russian executive power institutions – President Putin

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Cash, Coins, Line Graph

MOSCOW. Dec 5 (Interfax) – Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he is convinced that the targets set by his decrees issued in May 2012 can still be achieved despite today’s recession and a slow pace of economic growth. “I am certain that we can and should fulfill them,” Putin said at the Russian Popular Front’s conference. “These decrees are […]

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TRANSCRIPT: Meeting of the Economic Council

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Vladimir Putin at Valdai Club 2013 Meeting, Adapted from Screenshot of Valdai Club Video at youtube.com

(Kremlin.ru – December 4, 2013) Vladimir Putin held a meeting of the Presidential Economic Council. PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA VLADIMIR PUTIN: Good afternoon colleagues, Two years ago at the Business Russia congress, we launched the National Business Initiative. We set the goal then of creating a comfortable environment for doing business in the regions and in the country in general. We […]

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