Prime Minister pledges support for small, mid-sized business
Igor Leonidov
In the Yaroslavl Region, the Prime Minister visited plants manufacturing engines for KamAZ trucks and Superjet planes, and described support measures for young businessmen.
Speaking in Yaroslavl, Mr Putin outlined social priorities: keeping old jobs and creating new ones, and supporting business, particularly small and mid-sized business. There are 1.15 million small and mid-size businesses in Russia, and they employ about 12 million people.
"Surveys show that many people, especially young people, want to establish their own businesses," Mr Putin said. "And the state's task is to help them."
The Prime Minister called entrepreneurship a "strategic priority" and said that next year the federal budget would allocate 10 billion roubles for small business. The Development Bank would provide another 30 billion roubles.
Anticipating some officials' next question, Mr Putin said the spending would be tightly controlled.
Small businesses will benefit from more than just money. This autumn's parliamentary session is to pass a law abolishing all unnecessary administrative barriers. One highlight will be the adoption of a declarative principle for opening a business. However, the principle will initially apply only to small restaurants, retail trade and everyday services.
Mr Putin said there were also plans to reduce grid-connection fees for small business. The state and local municipalities will also lease space to small and mid-sized businesses. The terms, according to the Prime Minister, will be reasonable and non-burdensome.
"Where possible, companies will be allowed to buy their leased property," the Prime Minister said, "and at the easiest terms."
One possibility could be a three-year repayment term or longer.
"Small and mid-sized businesses should be allowed to fulfil municipal and regional orders," Mr Putin said, and added: "But only effective, above board businesses, not anyone dealing under the table with officials."