Russia’s optimistic future entrenched in the Concept-2020
Issue:
December 2008, Vol.3, No. 11
Tags:
Concept-2020
The year 2008 will go into history as one of the worst for the global economy since the Great Depression as several countries, including the United States, Japan, EU states, etc., are now in full-blown recession with increasingly vague exit formulas from the depression for several years to come, according to authoritative experts, including IMF, WB and OECD. However, Russia’s fate is totally different, as its future seems brighter, with the authorities planning to exit the crisis even stronger and more competitive.
Though Russia has failed to become ‘the promised island of stability’ in these storms, the 1trln.rubs planned to support the economy in 2009, the audacious three-year-surplus budget for 2009-11, government’s Medium-Term Development Plan till 2012 and the more ambitious long-term Development Concept-2020, which envisages turning the lopsidedly raw-commodities dependent economy to a sophisticatedly innovative one that will be among the global top-5 by 2020, etc., only highlighted the magnitude of the Kremlin’s ambitious future plans. Indeed, Russia, compared to other countries, trying to survive the current crisis with the least losses, looks set to become a business haven, evident in its plans to create an international financial center and transform its ruble into an international reserves currency. Indeed, the perfect timing of these epochal programs, at the peak of crisis, is specially aimed to have a significantly positive psychological impact at home, while simultaneously showcasing the country’s rapidly growing self-confidence in its enormous capacities and desire to be a global player on the international arena.
As usual, the December Edition is dedicated to the achievements (and/or failures) in the outgoing year and prognoses for the coming one. These reports, compiled with the help of top CEOs, are in the Cover Story, the CEOs’ Opinions and Prognoses rubric and in the traditional business rubrics in the publication. Still on achievements, I must note that for us at TRCW, the year was a huge success, evident in the rising number of subscribers and advertisers, numerous invitations to be a media sponsor for key business events in and outside Russia and nominations for awards in several mass-media programs. Also, our bilingual website, www.therussiacorporateworld.ru, after months of redesigning and reprogramming to further enhance its uniqueness and also boost its business-promotional capabilities for advertisers, was finally re-launched. The feedback from advertisers and general readers has been more than encouraging.
And, finally, as we head toward the world’s most important festivals — the Christmas and New Year — the entire TRCW staff would like to use this goldenly unique opportunity to thank all business partners and general readers for cooperation and commitment to our course — the provision of objective news for businesses — and wish everyone sound health and more positive business perspectives in 2009.
Happy Christmas and New Year in advance!
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