Gref expects faster growth in Russia's economy

Russian Economic Development and Trade Minister German Gref thinks that Russia can face a more significant economic growth over the next two or three years. He made this forecast in a live interview on ORT television. "If we lower the tax burden and administrative barriers on the way of investments, this will allow for an additional GDP rise of 1 percent, according to estimates of experts," the minister was quoted as saying. Combating corruption, providing transparency of decisions and the protection of property rights would allow for another 1-percent increase in the GDP and one more 1-percent rise can be achieved by protection of exporters and opening markets, he stressed. Gref reiterated that 115 antidumping regulations were enacted in Russia at present. Earlier, the Economic Development and Trade Minister noted that a faster economic growth had been set as a task in the president's address to the parliament. Other priorities, denoted in Putin's address, were the development of small businesses, housing and communal reforms and support to the high tech development.