"I would like to stress that we welcome foreign investments. They are growing year in and year out. We are very glad about it and we will do all we can to support the process in the future."

"The new ministry is a large and influential structure very important for the state, its economy and information policy. It is an essential governmental body."

The organisation of the work of the Natural Resources Ministry, which has been charged with the function of environmental supervision, was discussed during the meeting.

"The resources accumulated by Russia in the last eight years have allowed it to overcome the world financial crisis rather smoothly, and to retain high and steady rates of economic growth," he said.

The First Deputy Prime Minister pointed out that the idea of creating an international financial centre in Russia was first proposed by President Putin in February 2008.

"Obviously, we cannot do without introducing modern approaches to organising scientific research, or without promoting competition in the scientific environment. This is the only way if we are to translate investments into the growing effectiveness of our science, into the creation of intellectual products."