It is the only source that can provide a chance for economic breakthrough

Money from Russia’s Stabilisation Fund is expected to be invested abroad in dollar-nominated securities, with minimum investment risks and minimum profitability at 2-4%. These funds have until now been kept in Central Bank accounts. This means that a great deal of money will soon appear on the financial markets. On February 1, 2005, the Fund totaled 647.2 billion roubles ($23.1 billion), which mostly came from taxes on oil sales with prices exceeding $20 per barrel and export duties from oil companies. The crucial question is how this money should be used. Money can only be taken out of the Fund when it has more than 500 billion roubles. Therefore, more than a fifth of its resources can already be used. This is a key issue for Russia’s economy, as the positive overseas market situation in recent years has been almost exclusively responsible for its growth. However, experts are not tired of repeating that the potential of the resource-oriented Russian economy has been virtually exhausted. The mechanism whereby "we produce oil, sell it and enjoy the benefits" is becoming increasingly less effective. The country is now at a stage when it must introduce an industrial policy. However, any policy only makes sense when there is money to implement it. Russia’s stock market and banking system do not provide the necessary financing for the real sector of the economy. Direct foreign investment in Russia remains at a very low level, while foreign investment in general is concentrated on either the import of equipment or foreign borrowings. The country obviously needs sources for further growth. The Stabilisation Fund is virtually the only potential source today and a genuine war is being waged for its funds.