Putin to meet Wed with 2020 socio-econ strategy preparing experts

MOSCOW, February 16 (Itar-Tass) - Vladimir Putin is to hold the first
meeting Wednesday with members of the expert community who are
participating in preparing proposals dealing with problems of current
concern relating to a socio-economic development strategy of Russia for a
period ending in 2020, the RF government press service announced.
Those present at the meeting "are to discuss a wide range of matters
concerning the modernization of the economy, a rise in the effectiveness
of the social welfare sector and the state governance system in the period
until 2020," the announcement said.
"A socio-economic development model must be worked out in Russia with
due regard for the consequences of the world financial downturn," a press
service official pointed out. Despite the overcoming of recessional
trends, a number of structural economic problems still persist in the
country, namely, the wearout of infrastructure, low productivity of
labour, and insufficient competitiveness".
Earlier this month expert groups were set up on the basis of the
Academy of the National Economy and Public Service to the President of the
Russian Federation and the Higher School of Economics national research
university. The tasks of those expert groups are to prepare proposals on
shaping a new economic development model and prompting a wide public
discussion with the participation of scientific and business communities.
The main areas of the expert groups' work are the ensurance of
macroeconomic and social stability, a transition from stimulation of
innovations to growth on their basis, the ensurance of competition and
development of small and medium-sized businesses, a rise in the quality of
life, an increase in the effectiveness of the use of budget resources, and
refinement of inter-budgetary relations.
The expert groups include specialists of relevant Russian institutions
of higher learning and research institutes, officials of ministries and
departments concerned, staff members of the presidential administration
and the government, heads of regional executive power bodies, and leading
foreign experts.
The results of the work of the expert groups are to be examined
quarterly at government meetings.