(Recasts, adds additional information in paras 3-4)
ST. PETERSBURG, October 7 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to grow 7.3% in 2007, the finance minister said Sunday.
"This year, GDP growth will total 7.3%," Alexei Kudrin told journalists in St. Petersburg.
The government's earlier GDP growth forecast for 2007 was 6.5%, but the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade later revised the projections to 7.3% after the annualized growth hit 7.9% in the first seven months of the year. The ministry said GDP in 2008-2010 would grow 6.4%, 6% and 6.3% respectively.
Kudrin also said investment in the Russian economy will grow by about 20% in 2007.