National policy in platinum metals market discussed at meeting with Russian Premier

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov has held a meeting on national policy issues on the platinum metals market with participation of heads of the Ministry of Finance, the State Depository, the Bank of Russia and joint stock company "Norilsky Nikel".

General trends on the platinum metals market were on the agenda of the meeting, said the Governmental Information Department.

Measures for securing stable and predictable platinum metals deliveries to the world market and their realisation to consumers on a long-term basis were also discussed during the meeting. Those present also touched upon issues concerning the development of domestic platinum metals market and gradual liberalisation of the state export control in this sector, said Governmental Information Department. They also worked out concrete measures for strengthening coordination of Russian platinum market participants' activity.

Russia is one of the world's largest platinum metals producers. The total annual export volume of these metals is estimated at several billion dollars.