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Attention focused in particular on implementing the Plan for Sustainable Economic Development and Social Stability in 2015.

Taking part in the meeting were Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov, Presidential Aide Andrei Belousov, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, Economic Development Minister Alexei Ulyukayev, Governor of the Central Bank Elvira Nabiullina, Sberbank CEO and Chairman of the Board German Gref, Central Bank Board of Directors member Sergei Ignatyev, and Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences at St Petersburg State University Alexei Kudrin.

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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, colleagues,

Here today are current and former Government members and heads of the Central Bank, people with very sound understanding of the events taking place and experience in solving the kinds of problems that our economy faces today. I see today’s meeting as part of the broader discussion on the next steps to stabilise and develop Russia’s economy.

As you know, the Government has begun implementing the plan that was drafted and approved, and that addresses precisely all of these issues. Overall, the agenda is clear of course. We discuss these matters all the time. Our tasks include diversifying the economy, creating conditions for faster growth, creating the right environment, improving management at every level of power, from the very top and right down to the municipal level, stabilising the currency, and of course keeping our macroeconomic indicators on course. All of this is clear, only it is often not so clear what exactly we should do at particular moments in order to actually realise all of these things in practice. So let’s discuss this in more depth now. 

We all know each other well and each of us, each in our place, has an adequate understanding of the situation. Let’s exchange views and take a look at what we must do and what decisions we need to take to make sure that the Government plan I referred to does not just stay on paper but becomes a real tool for reaching the set objectives. 

Please, go ahead.

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