The President said that the global financial crisis should not be cause for doubting the inherent value of freedom and democratic, cultural and economic values. Mr Medvedev said that in his view, the fundamental roots of the crisis lie in an artificially maintained uni-polar system and the preservation of monopolies in key segments of the global economy. Today’s decision makers have the task of making the global economy healthier, more sustainable and less vulnerable to global risks, the President said. Mr Medvedev noted that various countries’ governments are ready to work t...

MARIA BARTIROMO: Mr President, thank you for finding time for the interview. A certain fall in GDP has been observed in Russia. What would be your comments on the matter? Could you tell us at what stage the Russian economy is at the moment, after the global economic slump? DMITRY MEDVEDEV: The Russian economy – first of all, I would like to start with it and say that it has suffered from the global financial crisis to the same degree as other countries. There are objective reasons for that, as well as subjective reasons associated with our economic environment and economic situatio...

As it was informed by “GAZ Group” press-service, as its member, The Gorki automobile factory ( GAZ, Nizhniy Novgorod) might have got full-scale production of Opel vehicles up and running within nine months if the consortium which is intended to obtain Opel, makes a decision on automobiles being manufactured in the city of Nizhniy Novgorod.

Soon all applicants for the purchase of German company “Opel” will become known. May, 20th is the last day when the German Government would make a book. By the present there are 4 potential buyers of the “General Motors” European branch share. They are: Italian “Fiat”, the Canadian “Magna” in consortium with “The Savings Bank of the Russian Federation” and “GAZ”. There are two more investment companies - Belgian “RHJ” and American “Ripplewood”. “Fiat” proposal is to pay for &...

As reported, those cars were delivered just in 2008; however they are still not paid. The total sum due to be paid is more than 2 million dollars.

In a telephone conversation with the team’s head coach [Vyacheslav Bykov], the President said that Russia’s team had scored an outstanding victory, and that he is proud of the team, which won all of its matches at the Championship. Mr Medvedev noted that the team’s excellent performance has brought it the title of World Champion for the second year in a row.

The President noted that the party has become stronger and is now a powerful political force. Meeting participants discussed the Russian political system development, local government reform, party proposals for amendments to the tax system, and the effectiveness of measures taken by the Government Cabinet to combat the economic crisis. They also touched on international issues, including the progress of the Russian idea for a new European security treaty. The meeting with A Just Russia representatives is part of a series of consultations with parliamentary parties conducted by the Pr...

This was announced by the president of “Kia Motors Rus” at the opening of the dealer center Kia “Aurora Auto”, which was held the day before. Thus, the  information about the plans of making cars of two brands at same plant proved true. Han Chang Kiun reported that on the plant, which opening is planned  in January 2011, besides the manufactures of brand Hyundai, the Kia car of B-class will be produced, which will change the model Rio currently presented in this segment. The name and characteristics of the new model are unknown yet. Two brands will h...

The alternate fund might become almost gone through can by the end of the year 2010, vice-premier - has declared the Minister of Finance of the Russian Federation Mr. Alexey Kudrin. However, he has added, later on it might be accumulated again, provided that the oil price will be above 50 dollars for barrel for a long time, because it is the price above which the fund starts to amass. Mr. Kudrin has not excluded, that the fund will begin to replenish in 2011. The Minister of Finance also has confirmed that it is in the plan view that Russia would return to the market of external loans i...

" We should hope, that this rate will decrease ", - Mr. Medvedev has declared at a meeting with the governor of the Novgorod area Mr. Sergey Mitin. The president has reminded, that the day before the Central Bank made a decision to decrease the rate of refinancing for 0, 5 percent. «We should hope, that this tendency (decrease in mortgage rates) will be in progress ", - he has told. Now the mortgage rate in roubles is fluctuating within the rates of 18-20 %. Mr. Medvedev also has noted that mortgage rates, subsidized by authorities for definite categories of citizens, are vital today. «It is a...

The Sberbank starts to lend microloans to small business. Credits up to 1 million roubles might be given for the period of 2 years under the guarantee of the proprietor of business. Besides, the decision on crediting will be made in short time – up to 2-3 days as two persons will consider the application independently from each other. One of them will be engaged in checking the documents; another will be responsible for negotiations with the client....

The Russian banks, receiving support from the Government should credit the enterprises and individuals in the amount of the governmental support according to the final interest rate not higher than 16 percent per year. This was reported by the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin . He also announced that banks – the recipients of the governmental funds should report on the rewards of top- managers and the amounts of crediting. The measures stated by Vladimir Putin will enable supervising the bank’s expenses which now can have a formal opportunity to misuse ...

President of GM North America Mr. Troy Clark has notified via e-mail 1,6 thousand employees in the American divisions about dismissals forthcoming this week. Dismissals will concern all departments of the company in the USA, but most of all will suffer engineering and administrative departments. Those who will keep the working places will receive the cut down salary since May, 1st and till the end of the year. To top-managers it will be reduced on 10 %, to other employees — on 3-7 %. GM warned of reduction of the staff in America in February. In accordance with their plans almost ...

Once it was loaned in November, 2008, LUKOIL Finance Limited ("offspring" of the OAO " LUKOIL ") has called in a credit of 400 million euro prior to the scheduled maturity date.

The government of Russia might share occurrent loan rates of the enterprises, has promised the prime-minister Mr. Vladimir Putin with the state support, the loan rates would be 10-14 %. Now the leading companies can borrow under 16-17 %, and the majority of the enterprises — under 24-25 %.

The fall of the GDP of Russia in the first quarter of 2009 will amount to less than 7%. This was announced by the Deputy Prime Minister – the Minister of Finance of the Russian Federation Alexei Kudrin.

The Samara group “SOC” has sold the controlling stake of “IzhAuto” which is on the brink of ruin, to the top-management of the factory led by general director  Mr. Michael Dobyndo.

As it was explained in the press-service of the Northwest bank of the SberBank of the Russian Federation, within this program it is possible to get new cars of the Russian trademarks and foreign ones assembled in Russia whether their price is less than 350 thousand roubles. Almost all models of Lada, off-roaders UAZ Hunter, and also such popular foreign cars assembled in Russia as: Ford Focus, Renault Logan, Skoda Fabia, Fiat Albea and Kia Spectra meet these criteria.

The prime minister of the Russian Federation Mr. Vladimir Putin has signed the resolution about grants to air carriers in 2009 as he informed, opening session of presidium of the government.

The general public prosecutor of Russia Mr. Jury Chajka has accused a number of domestic banks of converting the means received from the state in currency and their outflow abroad. He has also declared that credit establishments are used for illegal business, legalization of crime incomes and tax avoidance.

The President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbaev assumes that thanks to the reserves the country goes through the crisis smoother than other countries. He noted that up to now Kazakhstan hasn’t applied for loans either to the International Monetary Fund or the World Bank. Nevertheless, the President advised the fellow citizen to pull in their belts and “Hummer” owners to change it for minicars. N.Nazarbaev invoked the nation to be modest and assiduous and advised business to be ready for bankruptcy. “The loans should go to people who produce goods…others will t...

The asset value of Investbank resulted in the first quarter of 2009 has increased to 86 billion 299 million 672 thousand roubles. This was announced in the press service report of the bank.

On Wednesday, April, 8th "Autovaz" and Bank « Societe General the East » have agreed about the target credit. As the press - service of VAZ informs, the credit will allow paying licenses of French concern Renault for a new car of a B-class and the engine.

Car will go on sale in U.S. March 24; will compete with Toyota Prius.
TORRANCE, Calif. - Honda said its new Insight hybrid will be priced under $20,000 when it goes on sale in the U.S. later this month, as the No. 2 Japanese automaker takes aim at eco-friendly bargain shoppers.