MOSCOW, October 15 (RIA Novosti) - Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov said on Monday that accrued foreign investment in Russia has reached $178.5 billion, but urged more investment and pledged incentives.
"Total accrued foreign investment has reached $178.5 billion," Zubkov told a panel on foreign investment, calling the figure impressive, but not sufficient for a country of Russia's size.
Zubkov urged "more solid capital inflows" especially in dilapidated regional infrastructure, which he described as the Russian economy's main challenge.
"We understand this only too well, and we realize that private investors are to play the leading role in this sphere," the premier said, while also pledging a favorable investment climate in the country.
The Federal State Statistics Service said in August that the largest part of accrued foreign investment was represented by loans (52.8%) followed by direct investment (45.2%) and portfolio investment (2.0%).
