ZURICH, March 12 (RIA Novosti, Yekaterina Andrianova) - Russia's Stabilization Fund, established to accumulate surplus revenue from high world oil prices, will exceed $71 billion in early 2007 and $107 billion in early 2008, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Alexander Zhukov said Sunday.
Speaking at the fifth session of the Russian Economic and Financial Forum in Switzerland, Zhukov said the ruble was expected to gain about 6.5% in 2006, 2.8% in 2007 and about 1.1% in 2008.
Zhukov also said the Russian government would continue its tight budget policy. The budget will run a surplus amid the growth of prices for Russian export commodities while the Stabilization Fund will continue to grow rapidly, Zhukov said.
Russia's Stabilization Fund amounted to about $55.7 billion as of March 1, 2006.
