Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin reported on work on amendments to the 2007 budget. Mr Kudrin said he was confident that the parliament would pass the law on amendments to the 2007 budget before breaking for its summer holidays. The Minister stressed that the amendments in question concern thoroughly prepared expenditure items due to be executed this July and August.
Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov reported on current economic development indicators. Mr Zhukov noted in particular that industrial production growth stands at 7.4 percent for 2007 so far – a higher figure than that for the same period last year. The processing and equipment manufacturing sectors are showing the highest growth rates. Production of cars and trucks was up by 11 percent, for example, while production of buses rose by 25 percent. Production of construction materials is also growing fast, fuelled by increased investment, both domestic and foreign, in the Russian economy.
First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov reported on preparations for the Russian Government Supervisory Council for the Development of Nanotechnology’s first upcoming meeting. As well as members of the Government, the Council’s members include representatives from the parliament, civil society and big business.
The Council was established to coordinate the President’s initiative to develop nanotechnology. The Council will be responsible in particular for coordinating financing for nanotechnology projects in the fields of energy, materials studies, and medicine.
Under the provisions of a federal targeted programme, approximately $230 million will be allocated to developing the nanotechnology industry infrastructure. These funds will go primarily towards developing major Russian scientific centres that have already demonstrated their achievements in the nanotechnology field.
Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Naryshkin informed the meeting about his upcoming visit to Turkmenistan and his participation in a meeting of the Russia-Turkmenistan Intergovernmental Commission.
During his visit, Mr Naryshkin will discuss issues concerning work to develop the legal framework for cooperation between the two countries, in particular agreements on trade and economic cooperation and mutual protection of and incentives for investment.