Issues were discussed of creating favourable conditions for enterprise, and modern transport and production infrastructure in the country.
Continuing problems of the agro-industrial complex were discussed, including significant areas of abandoned and undeveloped agricultural lands, preserving livestock, the chronic financial deficit, and unjustified reductions in salary for industry workers.
Before the session of the State Council presidium President Vladimir Putin met with heads of agro-industrial enterprises of Russia.
He noted that recently a series of steps had been made to improve the situation in agriculture. As a result, Russia has now been transformed from an importer of grains to an exporter.
At the same time, there are clear problems, above all in livestock breeding. The President noted the heavy dependence on import of meat, and the necessity for greater independence from the foreign market. But if the mechanism of customs protection is used, this needs to be approached very carefully, to avoid an additional growth in prices, the President said.
The President also supported the idea of developing production and service of foreign agricultural equipment companies in Russia.