How to De-Spook Investors

In an opinion editorial in The Moscow Times Chris Weafer, the chief strategist at Troika Dialog, comments that the new Russian government will be announced next week and will immediately face a number of difficult issues that will shape economic performance and investment return from Russian assets through 2013. The budget review will be the first item, and the task will be to accommodate the extra spending promised by president Vladimir Putin without expanding the oil revenue requirement. Beyond that, the major priority will be to advance programmes and reforms that start to address the perception of Russia as a dangerous and difficult country in which to do business or invest.