Restoration of Russia economy to begin in 2010--Naryshkin

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30/11 Tass 130

TOKYO, November 30 (Itar-Tass) --Sergei Naryshkin, head of the
presidential administration, hopes that the restoration of the Russian
economy will begin in 2010, but he is concerned over Russia's dependence
on the situation on the markets of raw materials and over a low efficiency
of rather large budget investments in scientific research. He spoke about
it at a meeting of the Council of Friendly Exchanges here on Monday. Chief
executives of some 150 privately owned Japanese corporations,
representatives of political and public circles, as well as a large group
of foreign ambassadors, attended the meeting.
"A year after the beginning of the crisis the first indications of the
economic revival became visible. We have reasons to hope that the
restoration of the Russian economy will begin in 2010. According to the
estimates of experts, the growth rate of Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
might be some 1.6 per cent," Naryshkin continued.
"The economic foundation of our country depends a great deal on
fluctuations on the world markets of raw materials, which are outside our
control. We realize perfectly well that the economy, based on raw
materials, cannot be a reliable foundation for the stable development of
our country in the 21st century."
"The economic crisis became one more indication of the need for the
restructuring of national economies, including the Russian economy. Our
purpose is to make it less dependent on the deliveries of raw materials
and to transfer it to the innovation way of development," he said.
"Our country invests more budget resources in scientific research,
than other countries with the comparable GDP level. We have as many
research workers, as the best developed countries. The number of
registered patents is too small, however. Only 5 per cent of them are
purchased for commercial use. The accomplishments of the business
community in that sphere are also small. As a result of it, Russia's share
on the world market of science-intensive products is being reduced. It
amounts only to one pre cent, while the share of the United States is 36
per cent, the share of Japan is 30 per cent and the share of Germany is 17
per cent," Naryshkin said.
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