Putin’s Agency Seeks Steps to Halt Degradation of Russia Exports

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin must take active steps to reverse the “degradation” of Russia’s exports, which are heavily skewed toward commodities, according to an advisory body set up by the president-elect.

The world’s biggest energy producer should give aid to help domestic companies regain market share and compete by providing export insurance and state subsidies, assisting them in hedging risks and lifting visa regimes with other countries, a working group of the Agency for Strategic Initiatives, established by Putin in the run-up to the March 4 presidential vote, said in an e-mailed report yesterday.