MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The ability to balance Russia's 2017 budget to 3 percent of GDP is acceptable even for advanced economies, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday.
"The government will review the draft budget tomorrow. We managed to balance the 2017 budget with a 3 percent deficit. This is an acceptable level even against the backdrop of the world's leading economies," Putin said at the Russia Calling investment forum.
"In the current year, the government reverted to a three-year federal budget planning. Maybe it is, to be honest, too early for present conditions, but the government still maintains a certain percentage of healthy optimism, and of course even I support it," he stressed.
Net Jan.-Sept. Capital Outflow Declines Fivefold in Russia
Net capital outflow has declined fivefold in Russia in January-September of this year, Putin said.
"Compared to last year, net capital outflow from Russia for the first three quarters of this year fell, I beg your attention, by five times — up to $9.6 billion," he said.
For comparison, Putin cited the net outflow figure of over $48 billion in the same period of 2015, amounting to $57.5 billion in 2015 overall.
