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President Wants Order on Markets
At the yesterday’s meeting with President Vladimir Putin, ministers of Russia’s cabinet put forward proposals to bring to order wholesale and retail markets of the country. Agriculture Ministry suggested leaving only the agricultural product there, while Economic Development Ministry offered to quote trading places for local producers and to set up asset management companies.
It was President Putin that committed ministers to focus on wholesale and retail markets in Russia. According to Putin, the markets should be brought to order “to protect interests of Russia’s producers,” while the number of foreign salesmen there should be curtailed “to maintain optimal balance of labor force” and “help employ the citizens of Russia.”
The deadline for president’s order is November 15. So, the mere fact that the ministers voiced their proposals already yesterday emphasizes significance of this effort of Kremlin against the so-called excessive migration.
Economic Development Minister German Gref, for instance, proposed quotas of 20 percent to 40 percent of work positions for local producers, hoping it will force migrants out of the markets. Another idea of the minister is setting up asset management companies to supervise the markets. Predictably, such companies will be subordinate to some agency created within the ministry of German Gref.
But it appears Agriculture Minister Alexey Gordeev also stands ready to control the markets. Gordeev said they should be supervised by consumer cooperatives. “It will ensure direct access of agricultural producers to places of beneficial sale,” while the product of deep processing (cheese, sausages, etc.) should be sold in the more civilized places – the retail stores.
But the president wasn't impressed by initiatives. Putin told ministers he committed them to brush up markets rather them close them for near-abroad states. “The matter at stake is bringing them to order,” the president explained.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Oct. 17, 2006
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