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The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Sergei Kiriyenko, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Maxim Oreshkin, Head of the Federal Taxation Service Daniil Yegorov, Head of the Federal Customs Service Valery Pikalev, and Deputy Governor of the Central Bank Alexei Zabotkin.

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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, colleagues,

We are holding a regular meeting to discuss the current situation in the domestic economy. I would like to note right away that the recent measures and decisions implemented by the Government have begun to produce, in cautious terms, certain results, positive results. This is reflected in the positive statistical data for March.

As Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov recently reported, consumer activity was up in March. Wholesale trade grew by 8 percent, while retail trade increased by 6.2 percent. At the same time, unemployment remains at a record low of 2.2 percent. Industrial output in March rose by 2.3 percent, while manufacturing output grew at a higher rate of 3 percent. Overall, the country’s GDP increased by 1.8 percent in March.

I would like to ask the Government to continue prioritising efforts to support economic growth. We need to ensure that the positive momentum we see is sustained and expanded to encompass more industries and sectors, thereby making economic growth more robust and enduring. Today we will discuss possible additional measures in this regard.

One more thing before we move on to the agenda. Very soon, in early June, the St Petersburg International Economic Forum will take place. Traditionally, its business programme will be extensive and focused on specific issues that are important for Russian businesses, our foreign partners, and the development of the Russian economy as a whole.

I suggest that today we also exchange views on the main topics to be discussed at the forum.

Let us now turn to today’s agenda.

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