Pres to call first meeting of commission on economic modernisation

MOSCOW, June 18 (Itar-Tass) - Dmitry Medvedev holds on Thursday the
first meeting of the Commission under the president on modernisation and
technological development of the Russian economy.
The commission was set up in May. Medvedev noted at a special meeting
the head of state called at that time, that "no substantial changes in the
technological level of our economy take place" in the sphere of
modernisation and technological development.
"No impressive results have been shown either by small firms we tried
and try to establish, or industrial parks, various centres for transfers
of technologies, various new forms we try to use, the Russian Venture
Company, or still technical-introduction special economic zones; all this,
we should admit frankly, exists only on paper," he regretted.
"Problems of economic modernisation - creation of innovation economy -
should not remain abstract any more," the president stated. "Work should
be done in a quite practical sphere, specific fields and specific
industries," he emphasised. "This type of technological development of the
economy is indeed, evidently, the most practical and at the same time the
most difficult priority of our state, which we outlined in our strategic
programmes.
"Therefore, I believe it would be correct for the president to deal
with this question," Medvedev told, saying that he decided to set up a
separate commission on these issues.
On the same day, following the meeting, the president's aide Arkady
Dvorkovich explained that the commission would include representatives
from the president's office, business, expert and scientific communities.
"This will be largely a coordination body, by the results of whose
meetings the president will take decisions or will give instructions,"
Dvorkovich said.
Later, the president's decree was made public. According to the
document, the commission under the president was established on
modernisation and technological development of the Russian economy. It was
headed personally by the president. The commission chairman appointed his
deputies: vice-premier and head of the government's office Sergei Sobyanin
and first deputy head of the president's office Vladislav Surkov. The
president's aide Arkady Dvorkovich became executive secretary of the
commission.
The commission includes: director of the finance department of the
Russian government's office Andrei Belousov, head of Sberbank German Gref,
vice-premier Sergei Ivanov, managing director of the state corporation
Rosatom Sergei Kirienko, director of the Russian research centre
"Kurchatovsky Institut" Mikhail Kovalchuk, board chairman of Digital Sky
Technologies Yuri Milner, Minister for Economic Development Elvira
Nabiullina, president of the ONEXIM Group Mikhail Prokhorov, the Russian
president's adviser Leonid Reiman, Minister of Education and Science
Andrei Fursenko, Minister of Industry and Trade Viktor Khristenko,
managing director of the Rostekhnologii State Corporation Sergei Chemezov
and ROSNANO managing director Anatoly Chubais.
-0-bur