TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

Putin says wants to push Russia into top five economies

News Desk (Agence France-Presse)
Moscow, Russia
Thu, December 20, 2018 Published on Dec. 20, 2018 Published on 2018-12-20T18:11:23+07:00

Change text size

Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone

Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
Putin says wants to push Russia into top five economies Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during his annual press conference in Moscow on December 20, 2018. (AFP/Alexander Nemenov )

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that he wants to see his country's economy in the world's top five.

"The main thing is that we need to get into a new league economically," Putin told his annual press conference, adding: "We could very well take the fifth place in terms of size of economy. And I think we'll do that."

Russia is currently ranked 12th in the world pecking order by the International Monetary Fund, with economic output worth some $1.5 trillion. The IMF list is led by the United States followed by China, Japan, Germany and with Britain in fifth place.

Russia needs a "breakthrough, we need a leap in terms of technological innovation; without that, our country has no future," Putin said.

He listed some positive factors, including predicted 1.8 percent growth over the year, as well as "small growth in real incomes".

He said Russia has an "acceptable" level of inflation, while seeing a short-lived period of higher inflation early next year due to a rise in VAT from 18 to 20 percent that takes effect on January 1. 

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.

Share options

Quickly share this news with your network—keep everyone informed with just a single click!

Change text size options

Customize your reading experience by adjusting the text size to small, medium, or large—find what’s most comfortable for you.

Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone

Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!

Continue in the app

Get the best experience—faster access, exclusive features, and a seamless way to stay updated.