Medvedev to discuss investment climate improvement

MOSCOW, April 22 (Itar-Tass) -- President Dmitry Medvedev will chair
an economic conference on Friday to discuss the implementation of measures
he proposed to improve investment climate to Russia.
It is expected that Prosecutor General Yuri Chaika will report about
the implementation of the presidential instruction on enhanced
anti-corruption fight and improved state services. The deadline expired on
April 15.
The Kremlin and the government differ on the necessity to decrease
obligatory pension, health and social payments by companies in 2012. While
Medvedev urged to provide proposals to decrease the tax burden on
companies, the government said it will have to shift the burden on the
population by raising tobacco and alcohol excises and other taxes to
compensate for the losses. The Kremlin instead called to use additional
revenues from rising oil prices.
Medvedev's economic aide Arkady Dvorkovich admitted no compromise had
been reached so far.