RT reported that on the occasion of Russian Entrepreneurs' Day (May 27), President Vladimir Putin had a meeting with business leaders at the Kremlin, in the context of the Russian economy recording many achievements amid the West's embargo.
Mr. Putin thanked the business community for contributing to making Russia surpass Japan, becoming the world's fourth largest economy in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP), after China, the US and India.
According to the Russian President, Russia's GDP growth in 2023 will reach 4.1% and in 2024 is estimated to reach 4.3% - the result he called "golden" in the context of difficulties.
It is noteworthy that growth is not limited to a few sectors but extends across the entire economy - from industry, agriculture, services to digital technology and finance.
In 2025, the Russian government sets a GDP growth target of 2.5%.
Speaking to hundreds of business leaders, Mr. Putin affirmed that Russia will not " lay the red carpet" for foreign corporations that have withdrawn from the market due to the Ukrainian conflict.
However, the Russian leader left open the door for dialogue: "If their return is beneficial to you, then welcome. If it is not suitable, we will work together to adjust the conditions accordingly.
The statement indirectly targets big names like McDonald's, Microsoft, Zoom - companies that have withdrawn from Russia since 2022. Mr. Putin emphasized: "We do not force them to leave, but we do not need to maintain bad habits in the information technology sector".
One of the highlights of the speech was the call to more strongly limit foreign technology platforms. I completely agree, we need to tighten them. They are trying to tighten us, so we have to respond" - Mr. Putin emphasized.
The Russian president encouraged businesses and people to quickly switch to domestic platforms, cutting dependence on Western software and technology infrastructure - areas where sanctions are creating replacement momentum in the country.
Russian sanctions force us to produce domestically, self-sufficient and that is making Russia stronger, Putin said, adding that the average Russian has always been known for its resilience and overcoming difficulties.
The president also supported the proposal to fine state-owned enterprises for failure to comply with the law on priority purchases of manufactured goods in Russia. "There must be sanctions and supervision, otherwise the regulation will not work," Putin noted.
Russia's surpassing of Japan to become the world's fourth largest economy by PPP was confirmed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in early 2024. In the context of slow growth in Western economies, Russia's recovery and autonomy have led analysts to highly appreciate the role of "self-reliance" in the context of geopolitical fluctuations.
At the end of the meeting, Mr. Putin emphasized: "Today's success is the result of millions of Russian workers. They do not give up in the face of difficulties. And that is our true strength.
