Russia To Be Major Economic Gravity Center In 6 Years Despite Outside Pressure - Medvedev

Russia experiences constant external pressure, and these attempts to contain it will continue, however, the national economy has already developed strong immunity to such shocks and will have a powerful "gravitational force" in six years once the country implements its national projects, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev wrote in a special column for RIA Novosti

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th February, 2019) Russia experiences constant external pressure, and these attempts to contain it will continue, however, the national economy has already developed strong immunity to such shocks and will have a powerful "gravitational force" in six years once the country implements its national projects, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev wrote in a special column for RIA Novosti.

Medvedev for the first time tried himself as a columnist, thereby launching a joint project of the government's press service and Rossiya Segodnya International Information Agency called Government Online. Later, other cabinet members will join the project, reporting about their work and the implementation of national projects, as well as clarifying measures being taken in the social sector, economy and foreign policy.

"We have a big goal - accelerated development in key areas of the economy and social sector. There is every opportunity to achieve it. I'm talking about 12 national projects. Their cost together with the infrastructure plan totals 25.7 trillion rubles [$391.4 billion]. It is as colossal as their importance for the present and future of Russia. Our task is to make sure that people across the country would be able to say: 'I like the life I live,'" Medvedev wrote.

According to the prime minister, a "solution to the equation" of national success lies in accelerating economic growth � which is the government's Primary objective.

"Why is it important? Advanced economy benefits each citizen of the country. I am sure that the Russian economy will have a powerful gravitational force in six years, being able to attract the best minds and ideas - both within the country and from abroad," he stated.

To this end, conditions need to be created for people to do what they love for a good salary, live longer and enjoy life, Medvedev went on. The authorities therefore intend to improve the health care system and ensure a serious qualitative breakthrough in education to turn people from consumers of scientific and technological innovations into their creators.

Other objectives are to improve the quality of investment in fixed capital and increase their volume to 25 percent of GDP, overhaul control and supervisory norms by applying the "regulatory guillotine" approach and more deeply engage Russia in the global economy by significantly boosting exports of goods and services, the prime minister added.

"They have been seeking and will seek to stop Russia. We are constantly under pressure from individual countries that play the role of both 'world gendarmes' and 'sleeping policemen' [speed bumps] preventing us from speeding up. However, sanctions have the other side. We have learned to live and develop under total pressure. Just three or four years ago, oil prices determined the state of all economic conditions in the country (the ruble exchange rate, inflation, interest rates, economic growth and human well-being). Now the internal parameters have become almost unresponsive to oil price fluctuations," he added.

The prime minister noted that over the past few years, Russia had created a robust macroeconomic system with strong immunity to external shocks.

"The prudent budget and monetary policy has helped not only to recover from the most powerful crisis in the last half century, but also start working on new tasks - national projects. They shall strengthen Russia. All of us. [They shall] help achieve strategic development goals, so that in 2024, while looking back, we would have the right to say � we have done everything we planned," Medvedev concluded.

Rossiya Segodnya is a multimedia international news and information agency with a mission to provide prompt and balanced coverage of global news and inform international audiences about different views on key events. It comprises RIA Novosti, R-Sport, RIA Real Estate, RIA Rating, Prime, InoSMI, and is represented abroad by the Sputnik news agency.