OREANDA-NEWS. February 03, 2010. In his speech at the meeting the President stated that investment activity is a key factor in the modernisation of Russia's economy.

Russia's economy is open for investment, President Medvedev noted. In particular, a full-value tax system has been set up, tax rates are low, the foreign exchange regulations have been liberalised, and clear rules governing the access of foreign investors to strategic industries have been laid out. Nevertheless, Mr Medvedev remarked, Russia still ranks 120th among 183 countries in terms of favourable business climate.

Dmitry Medvedev cited the most pressing task as overcoming elements that have a negative impact on the investment climate, including the poor quality of federal and local government, poor law enforcement, corruption and economic crime, excessive administrative, technical and information barriers, and a high level of monopolization.

Noting that the post-crisis global economic recovery will create favourable conditions for the growth of foreign investment, Mr Medvedev outlined a set of measures that will increase investment activity and improve the investment climate in Russia.

Furthermore, Mr Medvedev emphasised that the large national companies which received government subsidies during the crisis must demonstrate investment into the modernisation of Russia's economy.

The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Prosecutor General Yury Chaika, Chief of Staff of Presidential Executive Office Sergei Naryshkin, First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov, deputy prime ministers Dmitry Kozak and Sergei Sobyanin, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin, Presidential Aide Arkady Dvorkovich, Economic Development Minister Elvira Nabiullina, Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev, Central Bank Chairman Sergei Ignatyev, Head of the Federal Antimonopoly Service Igor Artemyev, Head of the Federal Customs Service Andrei Belyaninov, Head of the Federal Tax Service Mikhail Mokretsov, Head of the Federal Service for the Protection of Consumer Rights and Human Welfare Gennady Onishchenko, Chairman of Russian state corporation Bank for Development and Foreign Economic Affairs (Vnesheconombank) Vladimir Dmitriyev.