Page 13 - RusRPTJune18

shopper turned down by large proportion of cheapest products on Auchan shelves.
Analysts surveyed by Vedomosti confirm the trend market of shrinking the trade floor and improving the product proposal, currently followed by both market leader X5 and its rivals Lenta and O'Key.
2.5 Moscow fifth most attractive city for investors
Moscow is the fifth most attractive city in Europe for investors according to a survey by fDi magazine, Moscow’s department for economic policy and development reported on May 10.
"Russia’s capital has improved its performance in the prestigious rating of attractive cities for investment in Europe. This year Moscow is among top five most interesting cities of the continent for making investments, and it has taken the first spot in the rating of Eastern European cities," department head Vladimir Yefimov said cited by Tass.
Moscow was seventh and tenth in 2016/2017 and 2014/2015 ratings, respectively, he added.
fDi is part of the the Financial Times Group and runs a survey called European Cities and Regions of the Future that ranks the most promising cities and regions across the whole of Europe twice a year. It examines five main areas - economic potential, world of work, expenses of doing business, infrastructure, and environment for doing business.
2.6 Kudrin moves to Audit Chamber
Ex-Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin set out his four main goals following his appointment as the new head of Russia’s Audit Chamber , a state agency that oversees the work of the government.
Previously Kudrin was expected to come back into politics with an important post in either the new government or the presidential administration, sparking hope that Kremlin will play its reformist "joker" in the pack.
Russian watchers have been disappointed by Kudrin’s appointment to the Audit Chamber, a relatively toothless body that has never played an important role in domestic politics. However, there is a chance that the intention is to beef up the Chamber’s role with Kudrin at its head and make it an auditor with clout. On balance, Kudrin’s new role is being seen as a blow and lack of commitment by the Kremlin to making the long overdue deep structural reforms the country needs.
Kudrin has accepted the job as head the Audit Chamber , which some have also seen as a positive as Kudrin will at least be able to promote his policies from inside the government.
His four main objectives in the Audit Chamber will be curbing corruption, tying Russia's strategic development goals to the actual budget, enhancing the methods of budgetary control, and informing the public on realisation of national strategic goals.
"The question is not, whether we spend the money in accordance with the procedures, but whether the spending is getting us closer to the national strategic goals," Kudrin is cited as saying by Vedomosti .
13 RUSSIA Country Report June 2018 www.intellinews.com