8 Dec 2009 12:21

2010 won't be easier than 2009

MOSCOW. Dec 8 (Interfax) - The year to come will be no easier than 2009, said Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Kudrin, who is also the country's finance minister.

"It seems there will be minimal growth, but that is growth following a large drop," Kudrin told reporters.

Russia's economy, like the world's, will remain at a lower than pre-crisis level, he said. This will impact GDP and demand volume, industry, and employment.

"There will be growth in 2010, but these factors will be lower than they were before the crisis, which means that unemployment will persist along with lower wages, and the world will be in worse shape than before the crisis," Kudrin said.