"Several years ago the share of companies with government stakes where we did not have a controlling stake was as high as 77%. Now it is 39%, and, as decided, we are gradually shedding excessive assets that are not needed for performing public functions."
“Mr Medvedev chaired a meeting of the Anti-Corruption Council. A detailed analysis of draft legal norms, which would make it possible to identify at the early stages loopholes used by dishonest officials, is designed to become a major element of our fight against corruption. Our goal is to make sure that provisions of laws, delegated legislation and regulations should rule out any ambiguity or free interpretation, and should impose clear and transparent administrative procedures.”
“We must remove all barriers to career promotions of young people in business, the Government and in science, and to give them broad opportunities for personal and professional self-fulfillment. Allow me to repeat that we view the Year of the Youth as an important stage in developing a systemic model of work with the younger generation.”
“We are convinced that those who create attractive conditions for global investment already now will become leaders of the global economic restoration. Our priorities include: the creation of a business-friendly environment and development of competition; the establishment of a stable lending system, resting on sufficient internal resources; implementation of transportation and other infrastructure projects. I have mentioned some of them here.”
“We are already a highly developed and educated nation, but we need Russian citizens to obtain the highest quality and most up-to-date education in those professional skills that will be widely in demand in TODAY'S and TOMORROW'S world. Therefore, we will be proactive in promoting educational programmes. We will expand international and other student exchange programmes. We will also create such conditions that the best researchers and professors - regardless of their citizenship - will want to come and work in Russia.”
“We shall regularly analyse work at key economic and social developmental projects included in the Guidelines for Government Activities up to 2012. To be sure, the present situation demands the utmost attention to anti-crisis measures and monitoring the effect of decisions made. We will pay the greatest attention to monitoring employment”
“It is necessary to regenerate our social institutions. Today's investment in education, health care, and other social endeavors will give us a competitive edge tomorrow. It will allow us to occupy a stronger position in the post-crisis world where man's role is bound to grow.”
“To become competitive, we need to boost labour productivity in key industries three- or fourfold; and increase the share of innovative production in total output - from the current 6% to 25%, or even 30-35%. We should also reduce the economy's power consumption by at least 40%. Under the present circumstances it is especially relevant to achieve these goals.”
“We will seek sustainable population growth, increase life expectancy to 72-75 years, provide all citizens with access to quality healthcare and education, and guarantee reasonable pensions. Finally, the majority of households should have the real possibility of solving housing issues themselves.”
“We should focus on making our economy more effective, and improve its infrastructure. We should learn to develop alternatives for conditions when prices of raw materials are not growing rapidly. We should get rid of unjustified costs. In this context, we should work out a serious energy-saving programme. The current drop in prices on energy resources does not make this task redundant.”
“We will need to significantly boost the effectiveness of traditional industries: mechanical engineering, fuel and energy, raw materials processing, transport, banking and agriculture. We will also need to effectively promote new points of growth, especially the development of human potential and modernisation of the social sphere.”
“We need cutting-edge, innovative development. Russia must solidify its role of one of the world's largest economies and maintain sustainable GDP growth rates.”