21 May 2004 22:11
Russia-EU protocol likely to encourage investment, says Russian foreign minister
Moscow, 21 May: Signing a protocol with the European Union on support for Russia's accession to the WTO means
"a serious step towards creating favourable conditions for foreign investment", Russian Foreign Minister
Sergey Lavrov said today.
"It remains to agree this with China and the USA," he noted. "I think it'll happen."
Speaking at an Alfa-Bank and Lauder Institute Wharton Business School prize giving, Lavrov stressed that
"attracting investment is one of the main priorities" of Russian foreign policy. "A good deal has been
done in this regard in recent years," he noted. "The legislative base has been improved and the economic
situation in the country is much healthier, which has facilitated an influx of capital."
The minister also noted that "attracting foreign investment is also significant in the light of the government
task to increase the competitiveness of Russian businesses and the economy as a whole". [Passage omitted]
[ITAR-TASS news agency] |
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