RUIE Summarizes the Outcomes of the Financial Forum: Businesses Advocate for a Balanced Approach to Curbing Inflation and Fostering Economic Growth
The Financial Forum, organized by RUIE on the topic of financial policy within the context of the nation's structural economic transformation, concluded as part of the Russian Business Week. During the forum, participants deliberated on measures to enhance the effectiveness of the financial system as a catalyst for development in the current macroeconomic landscape.
The primary focus of the discussions centered on the imperative to strike a balance between the objectives of controlling inflation and promoting economic growth. The forum was moderated by Boris Porfiriev, Scientific Director of the Institute of National Economic Forecasting at the Russian Academy of Sciences and an Academician of the Academy.
In his opening remarks, Alexander Shokhin, President of RUIE, likened financial policy to the economic system's circulatory mechanism, emphasizing the necessity for expanding the traditional discourse framework. Shokhin underscored that businesses do not advocate for the abandonment of the inflation target but advocate for its augmentation with the goal of stimulating investment activity. He referenced last year's economic data, noting that GDP growth stood at 1% while inflation remained at 5.6%. He presented survey data from over 400 enterprises, revealing that 73% face challenges in accessing debt financing, while 81% have been compelled to adjust their investment plans. He emphasized that a reduction in the key interest rate is the primary condition for resuming investment activities.
Alexander Murychev, Vice President of RUIE and Chairman of the FBA EAC Board, presented industrial enterprise statistics, highlighting the decline in profits within civilian sectors and the reduction in investment volumes. Murychev stressed the need for more coordinated efforts among economic departments to address accumulated issues. He assured participants that all proposals made during the forum would be incorporated into the final resolution, which would be submitted to the government and the Central Bank.
The forum featured contributions from prominent experts, including Valery Gartung, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Competition Protection; Oksana Basiy, Director of Economics and Finance at Finance and Construction Corporation; Vladimir Gamza, President of the F&I Consulting Consortium and Chairman of the Committees on Financial Market and Investments of RUIE and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Mikhail Golovnin, Director of the Institute of Economics of the Russian Academy of Sciences; Alexander Aksakov, Deputy Chairman of the Board of JSC Bank DOM.RF and Chairman of the RUIE Subcommittee on Financial Markets; Igor Yurgens, Advisor to the President of All-Russian Insurance Association and Member of the RUIE Board; Sergey Belyakov, President of the National Association of Non-Governmental Pension Funds and Member of the RUIE Board; Alexander Chulanov, Chief Accountant and Director of Accounting and Tax Accounting Department at PJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel and Chairman of the RUIE Subcommittee on Auditing; and others.
The experts addressed a wide array of issues, ranging from the availability of project financing to the development of long-term financial instruments and the expansion of public-private partnership opportunities.
Russian Business Week, held from February 16 to 20, is a traditional platform for discussing interactions between the state and the business community. The event's information partners included TASS, RIA Novosti, Kommersant, Vedomosti, Izvestia, Rossiyskaya Gazeta, RWB, and FBA EAC. The general radio partner for Russian Business Week – 2026 was Business FM.
Photo Source: RUIE.