MOSCOW: Russian businesses are expecting wide-ranging reforms and are full of suggestions for a new government as Vladimir Putin begins a fourth Kremlin term with promises to revitalise the country's economy. He also promised a growth rate of four percent against forecasts of one to to two percent, as the Russian economy continues to stabilise following a recession that ran until 2016. But favourable conditions for reforms are finally coming together for Putin, who has led Russia for 18 years, in his fourth term. Thanks to control of inflation, a long term bete-noire of the Russian economy, these objectives could be "more achievable than in the past," according to Renaissance Capital. But even if he gains support from the government, Kudrin will struggle to implement his reforms amidst the traditional reluctance of the Russian state towards any major reform.

Source: Bangkok Post May 06, 2018 06:45 UTC