RUSSIA SUGGESTS THINKING ABOUT ENERGY SECURITY
The day before the economical forum started in Davos, Evgeny Vorobiev, journalist for the magazine "RUS," discusses current economical problems with German GREF, the Minister of Economical Development and Trade of the Russian Federation.
- How it is possible to estimate Russia's present position in the context of global economics?
- At the present moment, Russia is integrating actively into global economical space; its interaction with the world's cconomyisstrengthening,andthedynamics of main economical indexes demonstrate that well. Thus, due to the assessment of the Ministry of Economical Development of Russia, the value of the Russian GDP on purchasing power parity came to 2.7% of the world's GDP (2.6% in 2004) in 2005. Russia has also become a more significant player in foreign economical relations. During the last few year,s the volume of Russia's export and import of goods has increased considerably. In 2004, the export of goods due to the methodology of balance of payment came to 183.5 billion dollars, or 2% of world value (in 2003 it was 1.8%), and the import of goods came to 96.3 billions dollars, or 1.1% (in 2003 it was also 1.1%). The value of straight investment in Russian economics for the same period came to 1.8% of the world's flow.
It is possible to note a higher rate of GDP growth over the past few years as compared with economically developed countries. This trend will continue in future. The average annual pace of growth of the Russian GDP for the period of 2005-2008 is expected to be 6%, while the equal index for the USA is expected to be about 3.6%, and 2.0% for the Euro zone, say experts. Big economic and resource potential, coupled with the success of economic development, have resulted in the positive evaluation and solutions to problems connected with formation of a competitive model of economics. We suggest that the economic position of our country will continue to strengthen. The value of straight foreign investment is expected to increase to approximately 22-23 billion dollars in 2008 (2.2% of the world flow). Russia's share (due to its purchasing power parity) is expected to increase to 2.8% in 2008. Besides, the index of GDP per душу населения will increase considerably (due to purchasing power parity). In 2004, this index was equal to 10,200 dollars per person (that is, 25.8% of USA level), and it is expected to reach 12,881 dollars per person in 2008 (that is, 28.3% of USA level). In spite of the fact that this index of Russian GDP per soul still lags behind that of developed world countries and stands at the level of Eastern Europe countries, it is expected that Russia will come considerably closer on this parameter to oil producing Arabic countries with high levels of revenue and to some economically developed members of European Union.
- How is it possible to describe the economic interests of Russia in the context of the "Big Eight" meetings and forthcoming heading of Russia in this international structure?
- A successful summit of world power leaders in Saint Petersburg in summer 2006 will allow Russia to finally secure the status of complete, active, and authority memberofthe "Group ofEight." Additional opportunities will arise for promotion of our political and economical foreign interests in the context of this forum and for further usage of its potential for solution of long-term tasks of social and economical country development.
At the present time, the Expert Council of Organizational Committee and experts from corresponding ministries and institutes, on the basis of approval by the President of Russia Concept, prepare all the resulting project documentation from the summit. Russia's "Visitor's Card" is presented with national initiatives defined by foreign political, social, and economic priorities that correspond with the principal approaches of other partners of the "eight" and that have practical importance for the world community. They imagine the ever-increasing participation of Russia in the "Big Eight's" activity in separate directions that correspond with criteria of urgency and realization on the basis of common action of the "Eight." Russia's main topics are presented based on these criteria; that is, international energy security, struggle with infectious diseases, and education.
Also, Russia is expected to offer to work out with partners a corresponding strategy of actions with the following aims: safety of world economics; providing the economy with all the kinds of energy at acceptable prices and minimal harm to the environment; and considering the balance of interests between producers and customers of energy sources. This strategy presents the realization of common measures to provide stability and prognosis for international energy markets; to increase investment into basic sectors of the world energy sector; to increase the degree of security and stability of the world's energy supply; etc. Some method of dealing with the so-called "energetic poverty" of developing world is also required.
