Russia to spend $34 bln from rainy-day fund despite inflation worries

MOSCOW, Sept 21 (Reuters) – Russia will spend round 2.5 trillion roubles ($34 billion) from its Nationwide Wealth Fund (NWF) within the subsequent three years to assist revive financial progress after the pandemic however should additionally take care to not drive up inflation, officers mentioned on Tuesday.

The quantity represents a rise from 1.6 trillion roubles agreed solely this month by the federal government and central financial institution, with the additional money earmarked for the Ust-Luga liquefied pure fuel and gas-to-chemicals advanced, a undertaking involving Gazprom .

The spending plan is strongly supported by the ruling United Russia Get together, which backs President Vladimir Putin and which received almost 50% of votes in a Sept 17-19 parliamentary election that opponents say was marred by mass fraud.

The federal government hopes the massive spending plans will translate sturdy progress within the leadup to a presidential election in 2024, the 12 months the plan ends, with out additionally fuelling inflation, which has been consuming into Russians’ dwelling requirements.

“The federal government is searching for sources of progress and the NWF which is pulling in personal investments shouldn’t be a nasty instrument. The important thing factor is for this to not impression inflation, for the central financial institution’s charges to not rise,” Finance Minister Anton Siluanov mentioned.

Earlier on Tuesday, the economic system ministry raised its year-end inflation forecast to five.8% from 5%, which remains to be above the central financial institution’s goal of 4%.

Russia has seen 5 key charge hikes this 12 months because the central financial institution tries to curb value progress.

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The central financial institution has warned of inflationary dangers if the NWF, a cushion for Russia’s oil revenues and which totalled $190.5 billion as of Sept. 1, is spent too freely.

The extra 900 billion roubles agreed for the spending plan might be used to purchase overseas tools and subsequently shouldn’t have any impression on financial coverage, Siluanov mentioned.

The central financial institution’s charge hikes have already knocked 0.2 proportion factors off Russia’s forecast for 2022 financial progress, which is now seen at 3%, the economic system ministry mentioned individually on Tuesday.

To make the budgetary spending extra balanced, Russia will already distribute 900 billion roubles, initially set for 2023-24, this 12 months, Siluanov mentioned, together with by offering the event company VEB with 190 billion roubles.

The central financial institution has mentioned it could proceed additional charge hikes at its subsequent board conferences. Whereas warning of the dangers the speed hikes might pose, the economic system ministry raised this 12 months’s GDP progress forecast to 4.2% from a July estimate of three.8%.

Russia is already operating a finances surplus this 12 months, set to proceed in 2022-23 and supported by newly introduced taxes on metals, coal and fertiliser producers. It’s anticipated to return to a deficit in 2024, the presidential election 12 months.

($1 = 72.9891 roubles)

Reporting by Darya Korsunskaya;
Writing by Katya Golubkova;
Enhancing by Gareth Jones

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