He noted that the final results would be prepared over the next few weeks. “Most likely, this figure will not be changed by more than 0.1 percentage points,” the Economy Minister added.

At a meeting with President Vladimir Putin on Monday, Mr. Gref said Russia’s GDP growth would be at least 6.9 percent in 2003. According to him, industrial production grew 7 percent in Russia in 2003.

During the second half of last year, the Economy Ministry revised upwards its forecast for GDP growth in 2003 (from 4.5 percent to 6.8 percent). A 5.2 percent growth is projected for this year, with an average oil price of $22 per barrel.

In his annual address to the Federation Council in May 2003, President Vladimir Putin set an ambitious goal of doubling the country’s GDP by 2010. Mr. Putin called it one of the key priorities of the country’s social and economic development.