Government To Review Report On Implementation Of 2001 Budget

The Russian government will review a report on the implementation of the federal budget in the first 9 months of this year at its meeting on December 6. Tatyana Nesterenko, head of the Federal Treasury, will make a report on this issue. According to information from the Finance Ministry, the GDP growth rate reached 5.4% in the first 9 months of this year, and in real figures the estimated volume of growth was 6.5 trillion rubles (about $217.1 billion). The analysis of the internal economic situation showed continuing growth in local demand along with a decrease in the volume of exports of goods and services and a rise in the volume of imports. The industrial output grew by 5.4% in the same period, and investments were up 7.8%. The cumulative volume of investments reached 1 trillion rubles (about $33.4 billion). The inflation rate in the first 9 months of 2001 was 13.9%. The revenues to the federal budget increased by 40% compared to the corresponding period of last year. A representative of the Government Information Department told reporters that in addition to the report on the implementation of the federal budget, the agenda of the government meeting includes questions of government regulation of prices and fees for products and services to be provided by natural monopolies in 2002. Economic Development and Trade Minister German Gref will make a report on this issue. Another question to be discussed at the meeting is the preparation and implementation of pension reforms.