SOCHI, September 18 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's prime minister on Friday welcomed the $17 billion in direct foreign investment that came into Russia in the first half of 2009, and vowed that the country would continue to attract investors.
"We appreciate that even in the difficult first half of the year direct foreign investment continued to grow, reaching $17 billion," Vladimir Putin told an international investment forum in the Black Sea resort of Sochi.
He urged more foreign investment in Russia, saying the country was "open" for it and pledging "positive" development of the country's economy in the future.
"In the future the economy will be developing in a positive direction. However, it would be a serious mistake to think that everything is now in the past," the Russian premier said.
Earlier this week, Russian officials gave mixed opinions of how the Russian economy could develop. First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov described as "quite favorable" the country's prospects for the rest of 2009, while Kremlin aide Arkady Dvorkovich warned that the financial crisis both in Russia and abroad may deteriorate further.
Putin said investment was most welcome in transportation and energy infrastructure, telecoms and digital television in Russia.
"Arrangements for the Sochi Olympics alone open up huge possibilities in all these spheres to investors concerned," he said. The popular Russian beach resort will host the Winter Olympics in 2014.
He also called for equal conditions for Russian and foreign investors in energy projects.
"Russian companies investing in energy projects abroad should not face worse conditions than those offered to foreign investors in Russia," Putin said.
