IMF:Countries in the IMF Financial Spotlight in 2019

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Countries in the IMF Financial Spotlight in 2019 By IMFBlog January 16, 2018 In 2019, the IMF will complete 14 assessments under the Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP). Eight of this year’s assessments are mandatory: Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Italy, Poland, Singapore, and Switzerland. The other six are voluntary: Algeria, Bahamas, Kuwait, FYR Macedonia, Malta, and Thailand. How Much Should You Save for Retirement? By David Amaglobeli, Era Dabla-Norris, and Vitor Gaspar How much you need to save for retirement depends on your country’s pension system. Our new research focuses on the interaction between saving and pension systems in an aging world. We use data from 80 countries to map public (government) and private savings [...] PROFILE: CLAUDIA GOLDIN For those who are dismayed at the depth of political and economic division in the United States today, Harvard University economics professor Claudia Goldin has a simple reminder: there is nothing new under the sun. "Deep political divisions arose in the past ... particularly in periods of rising and high income and wealth inequality," Goldin says in an interview with F&D. She fondly cites the prediction that an income tax would be the beginning of "a war of the poor against the rich," made by Associate Justice Stephen Field as the Supreme Court struck down the 1894 income tax law. (The 16th Amendment in 1913 cleared the way for today’s income tax.) The 72-year-old economic historian, labor economist, and gender expert draws lessons from the past to better understand the present. In a career spanning more than four decades, Goldin has studied the economic effects of technological change, inequality, education, water pollution, and corruption. She is best known for her research and insights into the role of women in the US economy and for developing a sophisticated, nuanced understanding of the reasons for the well-documented gender pay gap... Continue reading... | also available in español | français | русский | عربي | 中文 THE LATEST ISSUE As the world seeks to address the rise of populism and nationalism, it is becoming clear that economic insecurity lies at the heart of much of the discontent. The latest issue of Finance & Development magazine, produced in partnership with the London School of Economics and Political Science, explores the need to rethink the social contract—including how society looks after the old, the young, the infirm, and those who have fallen on hard times—to create a greater sense of security in our globalized and fast-changing economy. now available: español | عربي | français | русский | 中文 DEADLINE: JANUARY 31, 2019 Click here for more details COMING SOON Our March 2019 issue of F&D will showcase the latest economic thinking and evidence to further advance the global push for gender equality and the advancement of women in society. Stay tuned! ABOUT F&D Finance & Development, the IMF's quarterly print magazine and online editorial platform, publishes cutting-edge analysis and insight on the latest trends and research in international finance, economics, and development. F&D is published quarterly in English, Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish, and is written by both IMF staff and prominent international experts. F&D is read by leading policymakers, academics, economic practitioners, and development professionals around the world.

AHEPA Receives $35,000 Gift for Wildfires Campaign

AHEPA Receives $35,000 Gift for Wildfires Campaign The Order of AHEPA is proud to be the recipient of a $35,000 gift from the Peter and Stella Yiannos Family Trust, of Wilmington, Delaware, that will go toward AHEPA's Greece wildfires relief campaign, announced Supreme President George E. Loucas. Received in December 2018, the donation is made in memory of Angeliki Yiannopoulos, a relative of the Yiannos family who died in the wildfires that devastated Mati in July. read entire announcement AHEPA, IOCC Team-up to Provide More Public Health Aid to Greece In December, a tenth AHEPA-sponsored shipping container of medical supplies arrived at Thessaloniki and was delivered to the AHEPA Hospital in Thessaloniki. Supplies from the container were also delivered to the University Hospital of Alexandroupolis for delivery to medical facilities throughout Thrace. Ahepans from Alexander the Great Chapter HJ-3, Thessaloniki were on-hand to receive the delivery. AHEPA plans to secure a second container for shipment in fall 2019. Each container is secured with a $15,000 donation. Since 2012, AHEPA has teamed-up with International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) to deliver ten containers of medical supplies to various hospitals throughout Greece, providing invaluable public health assistance to the people of Greece.  Each container possesses medical supplies totaling an estimated value between $650,000 and $850,000.   Program Announcement | National Scholarship, Journey to Greece Applications Available The AHEPA National Educational Foundation has posted applications for its National Scholarship program and Journey to Greece program.  Deadline: to apply for a National Educational Foundation scholarship is March 31, 2019. (apply now) (promo video) Deadline: to apply for the Journey to Greece program is April 20, 2019. (apply now) (promo video) Hot Off The Electronic Press: The Ahepan The winter edition of The Ahepan is out! Read about the Birthplace of Hellas; how Odyssey Charter School is addressing the Greek language teacher shortage; and get caught-up on all the great service work our chapters provide to their communities. check it out Don't forget to follow AHEPA on social media:

Join AHEPA Today! In Our Own Words. What AHEPA means to us. Join AHEPA Now Upcoming Events & Deadlines   January 19 | Western Regional Banquet, Long Beach, California   February  1 | Deadline for the spring 2019 issue of The Ahepan  (submit online) 2 | Regional Banquet, Wilmington, Delaware February - March 25 - 2 | Monte Kofos Memorial Golf Tournament, Amelia Island, Florida Greek American News Digest   Editor's Note: Editorials, Commentaries, and Opinion pieces are shared for information purposes only and do not necessarily reflect the views or policy positions of the Order of AHEPA, its affiliated organizations, and members.     Greek PM Tsipras expected to survive confidence vote on Wednesday Reuters (Jan. 14)  Greece's leftist Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is expected to survive a parliamentary vote of confidence on Wednesday after his right-wing coalition partner quit in disagreement over a deal that aims to end a years-long name dispute with Macedonia. The coalition governing Greece for the past four years crumbled on Sunday after Defense Minister Panos Kammenos, head of the Independent Greeks (ANEL) party, left the government, leaving Tsipras short of an outright majority in parliament and raising the possibility of a snap election.  read more    Greece's New-Found Stability Put to Test as Tsipras on Brink  Bloomberg (Jan. 13)   Greece's political class is about to test investors' confidence that the country's years of turbulence are a thing of the past.  Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras's political future is on the line this week after a coalition breakdown prompted him to call a confidence vote in parliament set for Wednesday, raising the risk of an early election. read more     Opinion | Greece's Great Hemorrhaging   New York Times (Jan. 10) Greece's government, a coalition of a radical left-wing movement and a nationalist right-wing party in power since 2015, celebrated the end of the country's third bailout agreement last August as a "return to normalcy." Our European Union partners and creditors, who disbursed 288.7 billion euros in loans over the previous years, also rushed to declare victory in the crisis that began in 2010.  read more Tesla's Powerpacks Could Modernize Greece's Electric Grid Futurism (Jan. 14) Greece is made up of thousands of islands, hundreds of them inhabited. That makes building a reliable electric grid in the European country a major challenge. But advanced energy storage and solar panel technology could make it a lot easier to ensure that every Greek citizen has a dependable source of energy - especially with the help of Elon Musk's electric vehicle and infrastructure company Tesla, which has reportedly met with the Greek Minister of Environment and Energy George Stathakis to discuss ways Greece could use its Powerpack technology.  read more Eastern Mediterranean countries to form regional gas market Reuters (Jan. 14) Eastern Mediterranean countries meeting in Cairo agreed to set up a forum to create a regional gas market, cut infrastructure costs and offer competitive prices, Egypt's petroleum ministry said on Monday.  read more Cyprus No Longer Mediterranean Haven for Russian Businesses Bloomberg (Jan. 9)   For Russian businesses, Cyprus just isn't what it used to be.  New Cypriot anti-money laundering rules are compounding the effects of U.S. sanctions against Russia and its high-profile citizens, driving money away from the one-time haven.  read more    Tsitsipas Makes History, Becomes First Greek Male to Win an Australian Open Match The National Herald (Jan. 14)   No.14-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas became the first Greek male to ever win a main draw match at the Australian Open with a 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(4) victory over Italy's Matteo Berrettini in front of a rowdy crowd on Court No.3, tennisnow.com reports.  read more

COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION latest

PRESS

Council of the European Union     16/1/2019 CO2 emission standards for cars and vans: Council confirms agreement on stricter limits The EU is taking steps to reduce CO2 emissions of cars and vans. Under the revised rules, there will be stricter CO2 emission standards for new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. A provisional agreement reached by the Presidency and Parliament representatives on 17 December was endorsed by member states today. The new rules will ensure that from 2030 onwards new cars will emit on average 37.5% less CO2 and new vans will emit on average 31% less CO2 compared to 2021 levels. Between 2025 and 2029, both cars and vans will be required to emit 15% less CO2. "Today's agreement gives the go-ahead to decarbonize and modernize Europe’s road transport. It represents an integrated approach to the transition towards low emission mobility, and supports the long-term competitiveness of the sector, including by facilitating innovation in clean technologies, such as batteries and recharging infrastructure. It makes sure that cars will emit on average 37.5% less CO2 in 2030 compared to the current emission standard limits and is therefore an important step to achieve our climate goals. In addition, we are improving the test procedures with stricter rules to ensure a reliable representation of the real world emissions." Graţiela Leocadia Gavrilescu, Romanian Vice Prime Minister and Minister of the Environment The specific elements of the agreement Average CO2 emissions of new cars registered in the EU will have to be 15% lower in 2025 and 37.5% lower in 2030, compared to the emission limits valid in 2021. The CO2 emissions of new vans will need to be 15% lower in 2025 and 31% lower in 2030. These are EU wide fleet targets. The CO2 reduction effort will be distributed among manufacturers on the basis of the average mass of their vehicle fleet. A review clause provides for a possible revision of the 2030 targets and for the introduction of binding reduction targets for 2035 and 2040 onwards. The Parliament and the Council agreed on a mechanism to encourage the sale of morezero- and low-emission vehicles such as fully electric cars or plug-in hybrid vehicles based on the approach proposed by the Commission in its original proposal. If a manufacturer meets certain benchmarks, it will be rewarded with less strict CO2 targets. The benchmark levels for 2025 will be 15% for cars and vans, and for 2030 35% for cars and 30 % for vans. The two specific incentives for zero-and low-emission passenger cars agreed in the Council general approach were maintained with some adjustments: as concerns the better weighting of low-emission vehicles a factor of 0.7 was agreed; as concerns the incentive for manufacturers to sell zero- and low-emission cars in markets with a low market penetration of these vehicles, a multiplier of 1.85was agreed. The eligibility criteria of a market share of zero and low-emission cars below 60% of the EU average was maintained but with a base year of 2017. A second eligibility criteria was introduced, namely a threshold of maximum 1000 newly registered vehicles in 2017 in the member state concerned. Finally, a cap of 5% will apply for the use of the scheme, so that if the share of zero- and low-emission vehicles in a member state exceeds 5% of newly registered cars, the incentive will no longer apply to sales into that member state. For vans, the Parliament and Council agreed to leave the Commission proposal unchanged in respect to incentives for zero- and low-emission vehicles. The niche derogation from the targets for those vehicle manufacturers which sell relatively few vehicles in Europe will be continued until 2028. The effects of the transition of the automotive sector on in particular employment will be addressed via a provision on a socially fair and just transition. The Commission is to consider the possibility of allocating revenue from the excess premiums to a dedicated fund or relevant programmes aimed at ensuring a just transition and if appropriate submit a legislative proposal by 2027. The Parliament and the Council have agreed on new rules that aim to ensure the robustness and representativeness of emissions data reported. Firstly, stricter rules have been agreed for the transition from the old NEDC test procedure to the more accurate WLTP test procedure as the basis for calculating the specific emission targets for manufacturers. Secondly, there will be an increased focus on monitoring "real-drive emissions". The Commission will monitor the real world representativeness of the CO2 emission values based on data from the fuel consumption meters installed in new cars and vans. In order to prevent an increase in the emissions gap, the Commission is to assess the feasibility of developing a mechanism for the adjustment of the manufacturers' specific targets as of 2030 and if appropriate submit a legislative proposal to this effect. The Commission must also as part of the review in 2023 assess the feasibility of developing real-world emission test procedures. Thirdly, there are also specific provisions on in-service conformity testing and on detecting strategies which may artificially improve the CO2 performance of cars and vans. In addition, the Commission will evaluate the possibility of developing a common EU methodology for the assessment and reporting of lifecycle emissions (life-cycle analysis) of vehicles and, where appropriate, prepare follow-up measures including legislative proposals. The Commission will review the existing European Directive on car labelling by 2020 in order to improve information to consumers, including evaluating options for introducing a fuel economy and CO2 emission label for vans. Background and next steps  The Commission presented the proposal for a new regulation in November 2017 as part of the third clean mobility package. The European Parliament adopted its position on 3 October. The Council agreed its position (general approach) on 9 October. Negotiations with the European Parliament started on 10 October and ended in a provisional agreement on 17 December, which was confirmed by EU ambassadors of the member states today. On the European Parliament's side, the ENVI Committee is scheduled to endorse the provisional agreement on 21 January. The formal adoption of the new rules will happen before the summer. The overall aim of the proposal is to contribute to achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement and to reach the EU wide 30% reduction target by 2030 compared to 2005 of the non ETS (Emissions Trading System) sector set by the European Commission, which is translated into national targets in the Effort Sharing Regulation. The proposed measures and targets are based on the 2030 climate and energy framework and the energy union strategy, which aims at a reduction in transport emissions and energy consumption. The reduced need for fossil fuels will also improve the security of energy supply in the EU and reduce our dependence on energy imports from third countries. CO2 emission standards for cars and vans: Council agrees its position (press release, 10/10/2018) Commission proposal Council of the European Union     16/1/2019  EU to help boost exports of generic pharmaceuticals The EU has come a step closer to adopting new rules that will boost the export of generic medicines and biosimilar products to third countries. EU ambassadors meeting today in Coreper agreed on the Council's position on a draft regulation which introduces an exception for manufacturing for export purposes (manufacturing waiver) to the protection granted to an original medicine by a supplementary protection certificate (SPC). Thanks to the waiver, EU-based makers of generics and biosimilars will be entitled to manufacture a generic or biosimilar version of an SPC-protected medicine during the term of the SPC if done exclusively for the purpose of exporting to a non-EU market where protection has expired or never existed.

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"δημιουργία,ξανά!" πρόσκλησις

16/01/2019

Μοιράζουμε τη Βασιλόπιτα! Η Κρίση ως Εφαλτήριο Ανάπτυξης Κυριακή 20-01-2019, 8:00 μ.μ. Ξενοδοχείο Divani Caravel, αίθουσα "Μακεδονία" Λεωφόρος Βασιλέως Αλεξάνδρου 2, 16121 Αθήνα Η Δημιουργία Ξανά! σας προσκαλεί την Κυριακή, 20-01-19 στις 20:00 στο ξενοδοχείο Divani Caravel, για να μοιράσουμε την πρωτοχρονιάτικη πίτα μας! Χρησιμοποιούμε το ρήμα #ΜΟΙΡΑΖΟΥΜΕ και όχι "κόβουμε", διότι το κρίσιμο ερώτημα σε κάθε #πολιτική, είναι να μοιράσεις αγαθά τα οποία δεν επαρκούν για όλους. Άρα η μία οπτική είναι η σωστή μοιρασιά, και η άλλη είναι να βάλεις τις προϋποθέσεις ώστε η #πίτα να μεγαλώσει! Εκτός από την μοιρασιά της πίτας, θα συζητήσουμε και το θέμα «Η #Κρίση ως Εφαλτήριο #Ανάπτυξης». Σας περιμένουμε όλους, φίλους παλιούς και νέους, μέλη και στελέχη της Δημιουργίας Ξανά! ώστε να συνδυάσουμε διασκέδαση και παραγωγικές πολιτικές σκέψεις! Βίντεο - πρόσκληση

CANADA latest news

The Prime Minister announces changes in the senior ranks of the Public Service

January 15, 2019
Ottawa, Ontario

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced the following changes in the senior ranks of the Public Service:

Marie Lemay, currently Deputy Minister of Public Services and Procurement, becomes Senior Advisor to the Privy Council Office, effective January 28, 2019, prior to an upcoming appointment.

Bill Matthews, currently Senior Associate Deputy Minister of National Defence, becomes Deputy Minister of Public Services and Procurement, effective January 28, 2019.

Claude Rochette, currently Assistant Deputy Minister of Finance and Chief Financial Officer of National Defence, becomes Associate Deputy Minister of National Defence, effective January 28, 2019.

Biographical notes

• Marie Lemay
• Bill Matthews
• Claude Rochette

• Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks with President Sauli Niinistö of Finland
  
  January 16, 2019
  Regina, Saskatchewan
  
  The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, spoke with President Sauli Niinistö of Finland.
  Prime Minister Trudeau and President Niinistö discussed bilateral priorities including implementation of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), and highlighted the opportunities it creates on both sides of the Atlantic for jobs and economic growth. The Prime Minister conveyed thanks for Finland’s steadfast support for and early ratification of CETA.
  The Prime Minister and the President discussed the arbitrary detention of two Canadian citizens in China and the importance of respecting the rule of law, international norms, and judicial independence. The Prime Minister welcomed the European Union’s clear statements calling for the release of the Canadians.
  Prime Minster Trudeau congratulated President Niinistö on Finland’s gold medal at the World Junior Hockey Championships on January 5 in Vancouver as well as the success of Finnish players in the National Hockey League.

THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT:10th Gaidar Forum

10th Gaidar Forum
15 January 2019 13:30 RANEPA, Moscow

The main theme of the 2019 Gaidar Forum is Russia and the World: National Development Goals and Global Trends.


At the plenary session of the Gaidar Forum

15 January 2019


At the plenary session of the Gaidar Forum

15 January 2019


Dmitry Medvedev speaks at the Gaidar Forum plenary session

15 January 2019


Dmitry Medvedev speaks at the Gaidar Forum plenary session

15 January 2019


Dmitry Medvedev speaks at the Gaidar Forum plenary session

15 January 2019


Dmitry Medvedev speaks at the Gaidar Forum plenary session

15 January 2019


Meeting with Speaker of the Finnish Parliament Paula Risikko

15 January 2019
Следующая новость


At the plenary session of the Gaidar Forum

The Gaidar Forum is an ongoing discussion platform for pressing current issues. The forum has been held annually since 2010 in memory of Yegor Gaidar, a researcher, economist and ideologist of the early 1990s reforms in Russia. Forum discussions centre on Russia’s place and strategic role in the world.

Among forum moderators are high-ranking politicians and prominent experts, members of the Russian Government, representatives of regional authorities, and leading economists from Russia and around the world.

Retrospective


The 9th Gaidar Forum, 16 January 2018


The 8th Gaidar Forum, 12 January 2017


The 7th Gaidar Forum, 13 January 2016


The 6th Gaidar Forum, 14 January 2015


The 5th Gaidar Forum, 15 January 2014


The 4th Gaidar Forum, 16 January 2013

The forum’s objective is to involve leading global researchers and experts in discussions of economic and political issues; to maintain a continuous expert dialogue on key political and economic problems; to address major trends and key events of national and global economy and politics; to produce strategic proposals and recommendations on the development of the Russian economy.

The forum was organised by the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA), the Gaidar Institute for Economic Policy and the Yegor Gaidar Foundation.

Excerpts from Dmitry Medvedev’s remarks:





Dmitry Medvedev speaks at the Gaidar Forum plenary session

The past decade has brought many challenges for both industrialised and emerging economies, for countries with different social structures and political systems, as well as for the global economy as a whole.

These challenges are unprecedented in terms of scale. They include a high level of uncertainty in nearly all sectors of society, the speed and scope of digital transformation, which offer huge opportunities and entail huge risks, as well as the need for regularly upgrading the infrastructure.

We see sweeping changes in conventional markets and the appearance of new markets. This concerns primarily the structure of the energy market and the increasing share of energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly energy sources.

Competition and protectionism are on the rise.

Increasing social inequality is feeding widespread discontent even in prosperous countries and will likely continue to grow, among other things, because of new problems in the employment market.

We see unfair distribution of benefits from the growing global economy and international trade, as well as disparity between the growing weight of the emerging economies and their involvement in determining the rules of international trade.

These challenges are not only interconnected, but they also give rise to the appearance of new challenges. For example, everything connected with smart things, digital doubles, self-driving vehicles and the use of 3D technology in construction and industry calls for novel approaches to management and the training of personnel. Free access to information calls for upgrading the protection of public safety and private life.

The regulatory authorities are encountering new problems. What should they do with the payment systems and cryptocurrencies? The past year demonstrated their extreme volatility, although it is not a reason for burying them.

Many global trends are only taking shape.





Dmitry Medvedev speaks at the Gaidar Forum plenary session

Some of them are obvious, while others are evading control and hence are difficult to assess and it is hard to even understand what they might lead to. The traditionally comfortable models we are using to forecast our life 10, 20 or 30 years ahead are rapidly becoming impractical. The world is changing too fast, making our conclusions obsolete.

Russia’s strategy for the medium term is outlined in the 7 May 2018 Presidential Executive Order, while the tactical steps are in the Key Guidelines for the Government to 2024, and in the national and federal projects that have already been launched.

Our plans include, first, ambitious but practical targets. Second, they stipulate the provision of appropriate resources and personnel. And third, they set out an approach that allows us not only to monitor the implementation of our plans but also to see what adjustments we need to make. We have created a clear structure of steps we must take towards our national development goals by using not only our traditional advantages but also by transforming global challenges into new sources of growth.

The US Federal Reserve Chairman has compared economic policy to walking through a room full of furniture when the lights go out. On the one hand, this level of uncertainty in the global and national economies is objective. It depends primarily on the speed of technological development. In fact, it is the charge for technological progress.

On the other hand, and this is the worst part, this level of uncertainty is being created deliberately. I am referring to the policy of aggressive economic and political pressure, which some countries have recently adopted. It includes illegal sanctions, the use of force at trade talks, the arrest of foreign top managers as well as an actual ban on the purchase of some companies’ products. These restrictions have been used against many countries and, consequently, against thousands of companies and banks.

This is an attempt to change the architecture of international trade to suit one’s own purposes and to use one’s position as the global emission centre so as to control the international financial system, while at the same time increasing one’s sovereign debt to the utmost. Ultimately, it is an attempt to shift a major part of one’s internal political and economic risks onto other global economic players.

Back in the second half of the 20th century, US Secretary of the Treasury John Connally said that the dollar “is our currency but your problem.” Regrettably, this position has not changed over the past 50 years. The US dollar is still dominating the market.

The country whose currency is the key reserve currency is undermining public trust in it. Paradoxically, this country also provides reasons for the de-dollarisation idea. This policy can hardly be described as acceptable.

Russia and the EU have discussed ways of protecting their economic ties with Iran from unilateral sanctions. This approach is based on the common views on the [US] withdrawal from the nuclear deal and the economic consequences of this decision. The European Commission has prepared a package of measures to expand the use of the euro in strategic industries. The reason for them has been clearly formulated as the growing political and currency risks of the dollar zone.

We are also expanding the use of the rouble and other national currencies in foreign trade. We have slashed our investment in US treasury bonds. The latest issue of Russian Eurobonds was denominated in euros. This is the result of the aggressive and often incoherent US economic policy.

These economic actions by the world’s largest economic actor are only increasing the pressure. But there are also other structural problems facing Russia and other countries.

First of all, we need to settle our infrastructure problems. For such a large and complicated country as Russia, modernising the transport, energy, information and social infrastructure is of vital importance for ensuring a balanced spatial development, improving living standards and enhancing the efficiency of our involvement in global transportation and logistics projects.

We have prepared a plan for modernising and expanding the mainstream infrastructure. We intend to invest some $100 billion in its implementation, including from extra-budgetary sources, by 2024.

It is vitally important to create a stimulating business environment. This primarily concerns control and supervision. The number of the so-called mandatory requirements concerning inspections of businesses remains unreasonably large. Many of these requirements were formulated back in the Soviet era and have become obsolete morally as well as technologically.

We must reduce the burden on our business people and revise the system of requirements, primarily in such over-regulated sectors as transportation, the environment, industrial safety, veterinary medicine, as well as sanitary and epidemiological supervision. This goal can be attained through the use of the so-called guillotine of regulations.

The old provisions on mandatory requirements that are not specifically approved or amended shall be automatically considered null and void. This mechanism should be used to review all these provisions for compliance with modern realities by 1 February 2020. The goal is to create a transparent system of supervision that will ensure consumer safety and accelerate economic growth.

The second challenge includes the industrial revolution and the development of digital technology. The digital agenda has become truly international. The development of uniform digital standards, rules, e-commerce, personal data protection and cyber threats require joint discussions as well as coordinated actions.

Like many other countries, Russia has made digitalisation a national development priority. We have good starting positions overall, if we take a look at the level of development of our country and other countries. However, there is a fairly large digital development gap by industry and by region.

Another problem is the lack of corresponding competences in the state apparatus, right down to the municipalities, sector-specific departments and the law enforcement system. We need to retrain at least a million specialists, and thus develop the corresponding programmes as quickly as possible.

The third thing is a radical transformation of the labour market and related changes in the social sphere. Many experts are even talking about a traditional employment crisis and a vast increase in unemployment among workers with low and medium skills. On the other hand, the platform-based technologies provide endless possibilities for harnessing labour and providing jobs in a variety of formats, including remote, part-time and self-employment.

In this regard, several pressing issues are common to most countries. How can one ensure that all citizens are involved in the new technological wave? How will the rights of those who, due to the technological advances will be left out of the social protection system? What will happen to the social protection system itself as these trends and social phenomena gain momentum? How should the taxation system be transformed given these circumstances? As we can see from the very complex social processes and mass protests in European countries, particularly in France, we should start looking for such answers as soon as possible.

A special tax regime for the self-employed has entered into force in Russia this year. Its main components include its voluntary nature, fairly low rates, and extremely straightforward, just elementary, registration and reporting system. It is critically important that the law guarantees the stability of these terms for 10 years. So far, this regime exists in several regions. However, if it becomes popular, it can be applied throughout the country.

Clearly, these common problems must be addressed by joint efforts, consistently and pragmatically. We must seek reasonable compromises and gradually restore lost credibility. Only mutual trust will turn our common problems into unprecedented common opportunities.

***





Meeting with Speaker of the Finnish Parliament Paula Risikko

RUSSIA's latest

Agency for Strategic Initiatives Supervisory Board meeting


A meeting of the Supervisory Board of the autonomous non-profit Agency for Strategic Initiatives to Promote New Projects took place under the chairmanship of Vladimir Putin.
January 15, 2019
15:40
Moscow






Meeting of the Supervisory Board of the Agency for Strategic Initiatives.

The agenda includes results of the ASI’s work in 2018 as well as new projects that the organisation intends to carry out in 2019–2021. These include support for the urban communities and their leaders that suggest solutions for topical problems of urban development, creation of a digital platform for dealing with entrepreneurs and systemic measures on developing technological business in the country.

Before the meeting, the President toured an exhibition of projects by the Agency for Strategic Initiatives (ASI) and learned more about the collaborative work centres – ASI “boiling points.”

* * *

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, colleagues.

Today, here at the Supervisory Board meeting, we will discuss the Agency’s strategy for the future. But first of all, I would like to say – I have already said this and would like to repeat it again: not only am I not ashamed of this project, but when I learn about the results of the work, what is being done and what is planned for the future (we will discuss this separately), I feel happy and want to wish you success in the future. It evokes the pleasant feeling of pride in you.

First I would like to say a few words about the ASI activities for over seven years.

There are obvious and visible results. This is the improvement of the legal foundation and conditions for business – this is what I would start with.

Second is the support for over 350 specific projects that involve jobs, advanced products and technology. We learned about some of them today.
And finally these are voluntary, educational and social initiatives that are also very interesting, promising and very useful.

Obviously, the Agency has elaborated a unique mechanism for resolving problems and, most importantly, has united around it a whole community of people ready to generate and promote positive changes. These are entrepreneurs, innovators, volunteers, representatives of non-profit organisations and scientists. I was pleased to look at some of the projects that are literally brought about by science, fundamental science, which happens very rarely and is therefore a source of special pleasure. The infrastructure is being created for their interaction, which is very important and this is also one of the projects that we saw today. The Leaders Club is actively working.

The so-called “boiling points” are already open in 19 cities. This is where the best ideas are concentrated, talented and energetic people are united, and civic and business projects aimed at the country’s development as a whole are being planned and launched.

It is also important to note that cooperation with the Government and regional administrations has been developed. This makes it possible to support and promote key initiatives more effectively and faster.

And, of course, I would like to make special mention of the professionalism of the Agency’s personnel. You are united by a common desire to achieve practical results for the benefit of our people, our citizens and the country as a whole. Thank you very much for this.

Friends,

I am discussing the advantages and overall potential in such great detail because even more difficult tasks lie ahead. I would very much like to see your work fit into the national development strategy and what we call our national projects; to be honest, this has been true for the previous seven years, but is now becoming particularly important. This should fit in naturally and help accomplish tasks that have been set in these strategic long-term areas.

In this connection, the Agency’s strategy should be closely linked with our plans within the framework of national projects. Their success will directly depend on the active involvement of real leaders of change. Therefore, the Agency should, naturally, continue to work for these people and with such people who strive to implement these large-scale and ambitious plans.

We need to create additional opportunities, so that these people will be able to carry out their concepts and plans. I repeat, and I want to return to this subject: I had the pleasure of personally speaking with some of them today.

In this connection, I would like to note the first area of our work. We need to continue implementing the National Business Initiative, to compile investment climate rankings for the Russian Federation’s regions and to create a permanent mechanism for improving the nationwide business environment.

You and I understand that a good idea is one thing, and if it catches on somewhere. But it is another thing to implement it all over the country. However, we would obtain the desired full effect only if we manage to accomplish this.

This also means that the state and authorities at all levels should be able to quickly respond to the requests and problems of entrepreneurs; this should be done virtually online. Modern digital technologies make it possible to effectively do this already today.

Second. By launching the WorldSkills movement and setting up a network of Quantorium technology parks in Russia, you have provided a strong stimulus for changes in supplementary and vocational education – an extremely important area of our activities.

I believe it is necessary as part of the National Technological Initiative to start a mechanism enabling the widest possible dissemination of knowledge and competences that would be in demand not only today but in the future, ten or maybe at least twenty years ahead.

By the way, one of the projects that we saw, that I have just mentioned, is designed precisely for such work.

This is critical for the development of the digital economy, for a breakthrough in science and technology as well as the further lifting of barriers for researchers and developers of cutting-edge technologies. And of course it is very important to create conditions for those who are working on startups.

Third. The Agency for Strategic Initiatives has set a volunteering standard that is included in the UN report as one of the best practices. You also participated in drafting the law on volunteer activities and supported significant projects in the social field.

Actually, we took many major decisions together at a meeting with volunteers and non-profit organisations in Petrozavodsk in summer 2017.

It is essential to continue this work, to form an efficient legal framework for palliative care and the organisation of long-term care for severely ill patients, for the elderly, to expand possibilities for the activity of NGOs in preschool and supplementary education and children’s recreation.

Fourth. Assistance should be rendered to the business people who take on the responsibility of providing public services and utilities, preserving historical heritage, arranging public spaces, leisure, sports and tourism. That is, those who are ready to help solve the most important national issues and create comfortable and up-to-date environments in cities and towns. As you know, this is also a most important area of our activity in the short term as part of the national initiatives.

To underscore, in all the areas that we mentioned today the best practices and approaches need to be summed up and actively shared. We do have them, what we only need is to circulate them persistently and put them into practice. To this end, we need to influence what is happening in the regions in a constructive and substantial way, as before. For this, of course, I would repeat, we need interaction with the administrative teams in Russian regions. Our shared success will greatly depend on your coordinated work.

Let us discuss all these issues.

Interviews to Serbian periodicals Politika and Večernje novosti


Ahead of his visit to Serbia, Vladimir Putin answered questions from Serbian media – the newspapers Politika and Večernje novosti.
January 16, 2019
00:00


Politika Newspaper

Question: Serbia and Russia have enjoyed centuries of historical, cultural and religious ties; as brothers in arms they have gone through two world wars. Today, we are facing new challenges. What is your assessment of the present state of our relations, and what is your vision of their future development? The new TurkStream gas pipeline is widely discussed. Is there any chance for our country in that regard?

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: First, let me extend my warm greetings to all the readers of the Politika daily, which is one of the oldest periodicals not only in Serbia, but also in the Balkans as a whole. I would also like to seize this opportunity to convey my best New Year and Christmas greetings to Serbia’s citizens.