09.01.09

Russian parliamentarians view prospects for Russia in 2009 from the position of "optimistic realism," chairman of the committee on state development in the State Duma lower house of the Russian parliament Vladimir Pligin stated on Friday.

Deputy house speaker Vladimir Pekhtin agrees with him: "The year 2009 will enable us to overcome the consequences of the financial crisis. The prerequisites for the stabilization of the economic situation in our country have already been created; much work has been done. The implementation of the strategy of Russia's development until 2020 will continue this year, as will the predictive modeling of development for a long-term perspective."

"The main thing now is to meet the new challenges reasonably and vigorously," chairman of the State Duma committee on construction and land relations Martin Shakkum said.

"The measures taken by the government and the legislative work of the recent years, including last year, enable us to effectively cope with the difficulties we encounter," Shakkum said.

The lawmaker reminded that a draft program had been drawn to implement the priority national project of affordable housing in 2009-2012.

To this end, it will be necessary to create conditions for stepping up the construction of housing and utility infrastructure, and develop financial institutes and loan mechanisms.

Shakkum predicts that construction companies "will have to adjust their plans this year."

Member of the committee on economic policy and entrepreneurship Oleg Valenchuk gives priority to the task of making sure that the funds allocated by the state "reach, in full measure, the manufacturing sector and the most vulnerable points in the architecture of the Russian economy."

"In such periods the winners are those who competently manage their reserves, assigning them to meet the pressing needs of the manufacturing sector," the lawmaker said. Valenchuk also offered to involve small and medium businesses more actively in state procurements.

His colleague from the economic committee Vladimir Golovnyov urged the lawmakers to work out legislative groundwork for the domestic companies that purchase production assets abroad.

"These are issues of Russia's economic interests in the global space. The crisis is not an obstacle here, it's rather an opportunity," Golovnyov said.

In 2009, lawmakers will focus on minimizing the negative effects of the world economic crisis, first deputy chairwoman of the committee on federation affairs and regional policy Galina Izotova sated.

"We work in close contact with the government, regions, and the United Russia party on adopting lawbills which will help us go through the cycle of economic recession with minimal losses," Izotova said.

The soonest implementation of the adopted package of anti-corruption bills will help normalize the economy and create a new stimulus for the development of medium and small businesses," she said.

For his part, United Russia coordinator for interaction with the business community Vladimir Gruzdev believes it important "not to lose the new opportunities which the crisis has opened."

To this end, it is necessary to develop infrastructure projects and ensure legislative support of small and medium businesses, which will stimulate "the consumer damand and support production in the conditions of crisis."

Lawmaker Igor Igoshin has no doubts that "Russia will keep on its feet" and that it "will be moving forward."

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Source: Itar-Tass