Russian GDP might grow 2.5%-3% in 2013 - Ulyukayev
LONDON. May 21 (Interfax) - The Russian economy might grow by 2.5%-3% in 2013, First Deputy Chairman of the Russian Central Bank Alexei Ulyukayev said at VTB Capital's 'Russia Calling!' forum in London.
"I believe that this year the level of economic growth will be 2.5%-3%," he said.
The Economic Development Ministry's official forecast for this year's GDP growth is 2.4%. However, Deputy Economic Development Minister Andrei Klepach recently said that the forecast could be raised by 0.1-0.2 percentage points thanks to higher growth rates in Q1 2013 than the ministry had anticipated.
The Economic Development Ministry forecasts 2.1% year-on-year GDP growth in Q2, 2.5% growth in Q3 and 3.4% growth in Q4.
The ministry is scheduled to unveil a revised socio-economic forecast at the end of August.
According to a consensus forecast of analysts polled by Interfax at the end of last month, the Russian economy will grow 2.9% in 2013.
Russia's GDP grew 3.4% in 2012.