Yesterday, the government summed up the results of the outgoing year. By tradition, the last meeting of the cabinet of ministers was opened by President Dmitry Medvedev rather than Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. The two leaders arrived together at the main conclusion - the crisis has been overcome owing to anti-crisis measures but the ministers should not rest on their laurels. Putin set forth a minimum plan for the next year: support of domestic demand and business, accessibility of loans, diversification of the economy, increased exports, and reduction in the budget deficit.
"The outgoing year has been the most difficult one in the last 12 years, and the experience that all those present have amassed is extremely useful," Putin told the ministers.
"It is one thing to work in the government and control economic processes during a period of stable onward development and high energy prices; it is quite another to achieve results, help our people, and tackle social problems in conditions of decreasing production and a dwindling GDP. The government has coped with this task," Putin said.
He modestly thanked the President: "It is no secret that our achievements are the result of common efforts and support of our work on behalf of the President, his administration, and regional authorities."
However, at a restricted attendance meeting, Putin told his cabinet that the President's praise was not an excuse for idle joy.
"It is premature to give a final assessment of the results produced by the anti-crisis programme, but it is already clear that on the whole it has been carried out despite all difficulties. The active phase of the crisis has been overcome and economic growth resumed for the latter half of the year," he said.
Indeed, statistics seemed to be quite positive. The apocalyptic predictions made by analysts in January-March did not come true. In a tentative estimate, inflation will stand at 9% (Russia has not experienced one-digit figures for inflation in a long time), the rouble's exchange rate is stable, and the GDP is expected to grow by 2.5%-3.5% next year.
These results are good, but risks remain, and the crisis may return. Hence, it is too early to give up anti-crisis policy.
"We should change the priorities of our work and concentrate on the formation of new industrial potential and an innovations-based economy," Putin said.
He specified a number of priorities, primarily support of domestic demand in the automobile industry and housing construction. A pilot project on the utilization of old cars will be launched in the beginning of the next year. The government will continue to relocate people from dilapidated housing and provide apartments for army servicemen. Putin suggested preserving government guarantees for major enterprises because loans are still not easily accessible, despite a more stable economy. He said that in 2010, small companies will receive loans worth about 100 billion roubles from VEB's (Vnesheconombank) partners and another 80 billion roubles through guarantee funds. Small companies specializing in production and innovations should be given priority.
"It is important to secure macroeconomic stability for a stable recovery. First of all, we should reduce the budget deficit to 3% by 2012. The main goal should be to create real incentives for more effective spending of budget funds and better services to the public," Putin emphasized.
Putin praised the government for its enormous efforts to support social stability. Next year, it will continue to create jobs, starting with the city of Togliatti.
By Anastasia Savinykh
