
“Support from Russian citizens has always helped us, and I’m confident that the government’s future line-up will rely on the people. We must never forget about the needs of ordinary people. We must always remember how government-level decisions influence the lives of all ordinary Russian citizens.”
"We have discussed on a number of occasions the need to optimise and increase the efficiency of budgetary expenses. We have allocated huge funds for priority national projects, and they should work with maximum efficiency - to both address social problems, and, which is of vital importance under the current circumstances, to stimulate demand in the economy."
“It is necessary to regulate the grain market. For that, the Agriculture Ministry should greatly increase the effect of purchasing interventions. With that end in view, we have agreed to increase the authorised capital of Rosselkhozbank once again-by 45 billion roubles this time, after this year's recent 35 billion roubles. The money will expand grain purchasing interventions and so help farmers with sales and improve their financial standing.”
“We need to retain the volume and terms of agricultural crediting. As I have said, this will promote cattle breeding, dairy production and other essential projects, and guarantee spring sowing. Agriculture needs roughly 400 billion roubles worth of loans-half of them short-term, and the other half long-term, up to 850 billion grand total. It will take 72.3 billion roubles to finish livestock unit construction. That, too, demands Government support.”
“We have determined to subsidise agricultural loans, or farm production will drop. The matter came under detailed discussion yesterday, too. As you know, subsidies presently cover two thirds of interest. The Central Bank has increased its refinancing rate, so commercial bankers are also sending rates up. The entire national economy is under that burden, and it should be distributed between all branches more or less evenly. Still, we should make agriculture an exception, as in previous years, to ease pressure on it. We have agreed to subsidise 80% of agricultural credit refinancing.”
“The decision on new poultry, meat and pork quotas mentioned today has been signed. Our talks with foreign suppliers took six months and were very difficult. We have come to an agreement at last. Extra-quota meat import tariffs will rise substantially, while poultry meat quotas will be reduced by 300,000 tonnes, etc. The figure corresponds with annual Russian production increase. That is what we will focus on. We must guarantee that increase-it is crucial.”
“New farm leasing terms are entering into force. They have been extended from 10 to 15 years, and advance payments of up to 7% of leased equipment cost have been abolished. Now, the first instalment should be made 12 months after equipment is received.”
“When preping and approving new targeted programmes proceed from the real economic situation, selecting elements of the new programmes carefully, and trying to find the most rational and economically justified ways of implementing them.”
“I'd like to tell you that we have long set ourselves the goal of launching a commodities and raw materials exchange for trade in oil and oil products. We were planning to do this in St. Petersburg, and would like to discuss with you potential cooperation. Maybe, it makes sense to open a subsidiary of this exchange in Kazakhstan, say, in Alma Ata or Astana, or wherever you suggest. At any rate, the closer our cooperation here, the better it will be for both of us.”
“You are aware that we have cut foreign labour immigration as a forced and temporary measure. We are reducing the original quota declared by the regions by half. Let me stress that this move is prompted by labour issues inside the Russian Federation. I hope you will understand the rationale behind the decision. At the end of the day we are all interested in a civilised labour migration policy.”
