First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov chaired a meeting of the Governmental Commission on Sustained Development of the Russian Economy.

Attending were Presidential Aide Arkady Dvorkovich, Central Bank Chairman Sergei Ignatyev, Minister of Economic Development Elvira Nabiullina, Minister of Regional Development Viktor Basargin, Minister of Healthcare and Social Development Tatyana Golikova, representatives of ministries, agencies and banks with government interest and commercial companies.

The commission considered a report by the chairman of the Interdepartmental Commission on monitoring the financial and economic status of strategic companies on the government list, Deputy Economics Minister Oleg Savelyev, on the decisions to provide 10 billion roubles in state guarantees to Lebedinsky GOK (ore-dressing plant), 10 billion roubles to Mikhailovsky GOK, 6.25 million roubles to Oskol iron and steel works, and 4.5 billion roubles to the Uralskaya Stal steel company. The Commission approved state financial guarantees for all of these companies.

Commission members considered information of the companies' commitments to abide by the rules of providing state guarantees in 2009, approved by Government Resolution No. 103 of February 14, 2009, and data from VTB Bank on the companies' ability to fulfill their financial obligations.

Meeting participants also mentioned the four companies' anti-crisis programmes that have been implemented, including cost-cutting efforts, optimisation of production and the slashing of general administrative expenses. The Commission also considered the companies' efforts to preserve jobs and fulfill social commitments.