2003 draft budget: appropriations for aerospace industry increase by 5 bln roubles

Appropriations for the development of the aerospace industry and space exploration have been increased by 5 billion roubles (1 dollar approximately equals 30 roubles) year-on-year in the draft budget for next year, Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin said.

"The money will be spent on the construction of the International Space Station and development of automated satellite stations, from military to weather ones," said Kudrin, who visited the MAKS-2003 aerospace show on Wednesday.

He noted that he did not share the view of those alleging that aviation cannot bring profit. "The September 11 events were followed by a bad period in the development of aviation in the world as a whole. The demands for air carriage dropped and risks remain," he said. At the same time, he expressed confidence that the aircraft that boasts of the best flight qualities "should win and bring profit."