Russia's 2003 GDP growth likely to reach 4.5 %

Russia's GDP is likely to grow by 4.5 percent in 2003, Deputy Economy Minister Arkady Dvorkovich told reporters in Moscow today. He said this GDP growth would only be seen if the price of Brent oil dropped to $21 or $22 per barrel. At present, the price of Brent oil is about $25 per barrel. Dvorkovich noted that if the price of Brent oil stayed put, Russia's GDP would amount to 5 percent.