“It is highly important to encourage business to invest in new projects, in modernizing production and in cutting-edge technology. As you know, a number of practical measures have recently been taken towards this end. I am referring to the increase of bonus depreciation to 30% from 10%, the reduction of taxes on companies’ investment in R&D and technical retooling, and the lifting of VAT from the imported equipment that is not produced in Russia.”
“We will draw the new Electronic Government programme to be implemented before 2015. It is all the more important during the economic and financial crisis because the implementation of relevant instruments will help us to use government resources to greater effect, and will make all our activities more effective.”
Mr Zubkov said the Government was working on additional proposals to support the timber industry, such as to subsidise strategic companies' and other large producers' interest on loans taken with Russian lenders.
Events for 26 may 2009
“I hope a substantive and open discussion of the current situation will make it possible to elaborate effective solutions, find additional opportunities to support work collectives, and help those who have temporarily lost or are about to lose their jobs. I’m confident about this since we are well aware of what is taking place economically and socially.”
“One of the most acute social problems in this country is a great amount of shabby and dilapidated housing. Wherever I come and meet with people, they ask me how the Government is tackling this problem today and how it plans to resolve it.”
