VLADIMIR PUTIN
ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE
OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
VLADIMIR PUTIN
ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE
OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
VLADIMIR PUTIN
Vladimir Putin's introductory remarks:
Good afternoon, colleagues,
Today, we are meeting as a part of the budget commission.
You will remember that early this year, the effects of the economic crisis for all practical purposes compelled us to redraft the federal budget for 2009 in order to include large-scale anti-crisis measures and give up less urgent expenditures.
Naturally enough, this work had to be carried out under considerable time pressure. It was necessary not only to develop programmes that would support citizens and the economy, but also to start implementing them as soon as possible.
I think that by and large we have successfully completed this task. We are grateful to the State Duma and the Federation Council for their prompt review of the Government's proposals. In accordance with the law, tomorrow Igor Shuvalov will speak in the State Duma about the efforts to overcome the effects of the crisis.
Today, a year after the start of the crisis, we are seeing the first signs of economic recovery, and we justifiably expect that the Russian economy will start gradually improving in 2010. I hope that the GDP will grow, even if just a little. The Ministry of Economic Development predicts growth of 1.6%.
It goes without saying that this is a very conservative, cautious forecast. We will perhaps manage to achieve even higher growth.
However, at the same time, we must be ready for any, even the worst-case, scenario. There remains great uncertainty in world markets and the global economy. Many of the systemic problems that caused the crisis have not yet been resolved.
Therefore, our task is to form a high-quality and tenable budget for 2010 in order to guarantee the unconditional fulfilment of government obligations, regardless of fluctuations in world markets.
It is very important to preserve long-term macro-economic stability, to reduce the budget deficit gradually, to take out loans with great caution, and to resolve social problems on this basis.
Assuming that in 2010 budget revenues will make up 16% of GDP, or 6.9 trillion roubles, and expenses are expected to reach 9.8 trillion roubles, the budget deficit will stand at 2.9 trillion roubles, or 6.8% of GDP. Thus, the deficit will be less than this year's by 1% of GDP. In the current circumstances, I consider this an acceptable figure.
As for the budget expenditures, we must finally agree on this issue today. There will be enough money to increase pensions, to continue major social programmes and the required anti-crisis measures, and also to resolve other urgent issues.
Obviously, we will not suspend the measures that we had designated as part of Russia's 2020 Strategic Economic Goals programme. The budget allocates considerable funds for their implementation. Now it only remains to spend these funds effectively.
Let's start the discussion.
