Statistics Committee posts foreign investment figures

The volume of accumulated foreign capital in the economy of Russia amounted to $43bn at the end of March 2003, which was 25 percent higher than in the corresponding period of last year, the Russian State Statistics Committee reported. The share of credits of international financial organizations, trade credits and other credits was 51.8 percent (46.2 percent at the end of 2002). The share of direct investments was 45.5 percent (49.9 percent).

In the first quarter of 2003, some $6.3bn in foreign investments were attracted in the Russian economy, which was 1.7 times higher than in the first quarter of 2002, including $1.034bn in direct investments.

Some $1.727bn were invested in Russia's manufacturing industry. The amount of accumulated investments in the manufacturing industry was $15.528bn at the end of March. Some $459m were invested in telecommunications in the first quarter of 2003.

The main investors were Germany, the USA, Cyprus, Great Britain, France, the Netherlands and Italy in the reported period. Their share in the structure of accumulated foreign investments was 77.1 percent.