Frozen investments

The majority of Western firms operating in Russia has no intention of closing down operations in Russia. However, companies will make their final decisions based on how the financial-economic situation in Russia develops over the Spring and Summer. According to Itar-Tass, the British macroeconomic center Economist Intelligence Unit prepared a report to provide an overview. The research is based on the opinions of management in 140 corporations which operate in the Russian Federation. Russia is considered the most promising market in the former Soviet Union. As the report stresses, the number of companies which wish to leave Russia is very small; however, due to the crisis, 60% of companies in Russia have frozen investments and 33% have canceled future financing programs. More than half of those surveyed believe that the level of criminal activity in the Russian Federation corresponds with that of other developing markets, and 35% consider the situation in the Russian Federation "difficult."