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
“WTO membership creates better conditions for attracting investment to this industry; this is an obvious fact. We will be able to attract investment primarily to processing, to the food industry, to gain a foothold for our products at foreign markets, to protect domestic producers from unfair competition inside Russia as well as abroad. It is clear that after the accession to the WTO, we should not relax; we should understand and consider the many subtleties of WTO membership.”
“Russia must play a bigger part in the international division of labour, not only as a supplier of commodities and energy, but as an owner of regularly upgraded cutting-edge technology in at least some sectors.”
“The goal that we have set for ourselves is to propel economic growth to at least six per cent, or better still, to seven per cent per year, and to join the ranks of the world’s top five economies within five years. We must achieve this through growth, not because of a contraction in the world’s major economies. Over the next decade, Russia needs to increase GDP per capita by 50%, from the current $20,700 (let’s speak in terms of dollars) to over $35,000. This year’s GDP growth rate is estimated at 4.2%, probably even 4.5%.”
“We want to join the World Trade Organisation. This is our goal and our objective. In our opinion, this would have a generally positive impact on the Russian economy, mostly because it will increase the level of trust in the economy, and on the administrative and legal procedures within the economy.”
“Russia's entry to the WTO does not mean completely and automatically opening our markets to foreign products. We will certainly protect sensitive positions with higher customs tariffs. We will do this in strict accordance with the World Trade Organisation's regulations. <…> Russia will retain the ability to use all possible tools for supporting domestic producers. I am referring to special protective anti-dumping and compensation measures, which are widely used by WTO countries.”
“Naturally, Russia's entry into the WTO will improve the access of our national goods – traditional goods and high-tech exports, which we have expanded year after year – to foreign markets.”
"Since 2000, Russia’s arms exports have grown by almost 150%. They have also expanded geographically. Today we are cooperating with 85 countries of the world. I would like to emphasize that Rosoboronexport’s activity, like Russia’s military-technological cooperation in general, is proceeding in strict conformity with Russian legislation and international law as well as with the non-proliferation regimes now in effect. We fully consider all potential risks for security in the regions where we are exporting arms and are very careful to the established balance of forces there. We never take action that could upset such a balance."
“We certainly support the efforts of Russian petroleum companies to improve their situation on foreign markets, whether their plans concern the development of new oilfields or oil refining.Such projects bring our companies closer to consumers abroad, while the exchange of assets and investments enhance confidence in the global energy industry, make it more predictable and sustainable, and level out supply and demand”.
“We, both Russia and Kazakhstan, are at a rather advanced stage of preparations for WTO membership. There are still some matters to settle, but it will certainly be easier to do this bilaterally on the Customs Union's behalf than in the tripartite arrangement, because the more participants there are, the more problems there are, as every country defends its own economic interests and the number of contentious issues grows. This is evident. Certainly, it will be easier to join the WTO in the bilateral format. However, I want to point out that this is not a reason or pretext for not developing tripartite cooperation with Belarus included. We will do this.”
“We do have such plans (holding WTO), but we haven't joined the WTO yet. We are currently negotiating. As you know, these issues are very complicated. Just look at Ukraine's accession terms, at the losses Ukraine's economy has sustained by abolishing certain customs duties, for example. Just look at the aircraft industry. We cannot do this because we cherish our aircraft sector. This is a complicated negotiating process for us.”
