According to Mr Shuvalov, the Finance Ministry is aware of the need to offer tax inducements to small and medium business and is contemplating such measures and will submit the corresponding proposals to the Government within days.

"Finland is without any exaggeration one of our most important partners in Europe. Not only because we are neighbours, but also because the figures of our trade turnover suggest this. Our statistics show that in the first six months of this year Russia also became Finland's top partner, ahead of Germany."

Mr Kudrin said that the 2009 budget was “in compliance with the Government’s economic policy objectives and planned expenditures.” He said that the budget anticipated that Government expenditures would be growing at a higher rate than the GDP and inflation growth rates.

"Russia and Egypt established friendly ties long ago, and are steadily developing a dialogue at the highest and other high levels. We have been coordinating our foreign political positions and successfully developing our trade and economic contacts."

"Egypt is certainly one of Russia’s priority strategic partners, without exaggeration. We have a long history of friendship, interaction and practical cooperative work."

"Russia is one of the largest oil producers and exporters, and so cannot stay aside from world price formation. We will develop a package of measures to actively impact the market situation."

"Recent analysis has revealed a trend towards reduction in the total amount of operations connected with money transfers to foreign banks. It is a general trend, but at the same time those banks that have received state funding have increased the volume of transfers abroad. It is necessary to nip in the bud illegal capital flows and meticulously trace capital movements in general."