In its crisis meeting today, the Gazprom Board of Directors left the company’s 2009 budget and investment programme unchanged. The company intends, however, to “optimize” spending and buy more Russian-produced technology.
Following the example of the federal presidency and the State Duma, also regional governors and legislative assemblies now want to extend their terms in office.
The Russian Railways might next year be forced to cut investments with up to 30 percent, the Russian Minister of Economic Development confirms. Meanwhile, the company’s goods turnover plummets.
The Zvezdochka shipyard in Seveodvinsk, Arkhangelsk Oblast, hopes for an extended industrial cooperation with Chinese military authorities. Last week, the company director accompanied Russian Minister of Defence Anatoly Serdyukov to Beijing
Foreign intelligence services continue to try to obtain classified information on the Sevmash shipyard in Russia’s northern Arkhangelsk Region, a senior FSB official said. The countries involved included the United States and “some of its NATO allies”.
It will take two-three years to complete negotiations with the EU over a new partnership agreement, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Aleksandr Grushko said yesterday.
The Russian military-industrial complex will receive considerable amounts in state financial support in order to lessen the negative consequences of the economic crisis.
Increasing industrial pressure and looming consequences from rapidly progressing climate change were key factors why Norway, Russia, Finland and Sweden last week signed an agreement on emergency situations cooperation.
About 100,000 Russians are expected to go to Finland for New Year’s celebrations. Over the next weeks, every second tourist in Finland will be from Russia, Helsingin Sanomat reports.
Russian industrial production in November shrunk by 8,7 percent and is predicted to fall another 19 percent in December. Meanwhile, also imports are dropping quickly and unemployment is on the rise. Russia might be on the verge of a serious economic crisis.
