Vladimir Putin: Russia to create good conditions for foreign investors

Russia is going to create good conditions for foreign investors, President Vladimir Putin said at a Monday meeting with managers of the Shell concern.

Over six months of 2003, direct investment in Russia increased 1.5 times to reach $12.7 bln, the Russian president said. In comparison with 2002, the pure inflow of private capital also increased to $2.6 bln, Vladimir Putin said.

He also said he had had a telephone conversation with the Japanese prime minister and Junichiro Koizumi voiced Japan's interest in joint projects with Russia.

According to Vladimir Putin, the Japanese premier has noted that Japanese partners are satisfied with work on the Sakhalin-2 project in the development of oil fields on the Sakhalin island in the Russia's Far East.