It is a complex and capital-intensive question linked with massive investments, the Prime Minister noted. Foreigners hold the view that they invest enough money, while we believe that these investments must be more efficient, he continued
He said that the foreign investors had not discussed the Yukos theme with him in the course of the Council's meeting.
The Yukos issue was not raised at my level, Mr. Fradkov stated.
Everything is more or less clear in this question, the Russian Premier added.
He went on to say that the state would retain its influence in the sectors in which business would not manage its job well on its own.
It is necessary to remove the state's unnecessary influence in the economy and the excessive red tape but at the same time the state will hold a certain position in the economy in conditions of a market structure in the fields where the state has possibilities, Mr. Fradkov noted.
There are spheres of economy where business will not do the job well on its own and where the state's assistance will be useful, specifically because it will stimulate the business structures' initiative, the Prime Minister stressed.
We doubtless must find conditions for attraction of investments, and I would like to believe that the government's actions, specifically to form a medium-term programme, to improve the market's infrastructure, and to eliminate the defects in legislation confirm the positive trend of the Russian Federation, the Prime Minister went on tosay.
Mr. Fradkov considers improvement of the anti-trust legislation to be a measure to combat corruption.
We understand the topicality of the theme of corruption in the Russian Federation and of the struggle against it, and this theme worries both us and the foreign investors, he said.
We will consider the theme of corruption in the context of formation of anti-trust legislation aimed at developing competition in the economy, Mr. Fradkov noted.
The government will support the Council because the past ten years of work have shown the potential of this body, its potential which has not been exhausted yet, Mikhail Fradkov said.
In his opinion, the Council's accumulated experience will considerably benefit Russia in diversifying its economy.
