President meets with economic development minister

On Monday Russian President Vladimir Putin had a meeting with German Gref, Minister for Economic Development. Gref told him of a decision to be taken to introduce quotas on the import of certain foods, such as meat.

This decision is meant to protect Russian producers from subsidized exports and, at the same time, not to wreck the balance on the consumer market, said Gref.

Vladimir Putin noted that Russian producers should be protected accurately so as to prevent a price rise on the consumer market.

The minister assured him that quotas have been prepared in such a way as not to limit the current volume of import and simultaneously prompt domestic agricultural production.

German Gref reported on the main economic performance in the outgoing year. To him, inflation in 2002 will be 15.1 percent and the other parameters as forecasted. The 2002 gross domestic product will be 4.1 percent, added German Gref.