-Caveat Lector- MOSCOW (December 29, 1998 8:08 p.m. EST http://www.nandotimes.com) - Direct foreign investment in Russia dropped this year to $2 billion, half its level in 1997, an Economics Ministry official said Tuesday, quoted by a news agency. The numbers reflected investors' fears over the Russian economy, hit over the past year by a currency devaluation and its worst recession since 1991, Vladimir Yefimov said. "Unfortunately, this is a very small volume given the state of our industry," Yefimov told the ITAR-Tass news agency. By comparison, foreign direct investments in Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary will total around $11.4 billion in 1998 - although their combined population is less than half of Russia's. Direct foreign investment in Russia - that is, investment directly in companies, as opposed to stocks or other financial instruments - reached $3.9 billion in 1997 before collapsing this year. Yefimov predicted that direct investment would climb back to $2.5 billion in 1999. Most Russian manufactures are cash-starved and use obsolete equipment, producing goods that often fail to compete with more expensive imports. DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
