Russian Agency Calls For New Foreign-Investment Limits

(RFE/RL) March 30, 2006 -- Speaking at an investors' forum in St. Petersburg today, Vladimir Tarachev, deputy chairman of the Duma Banking and Financial Markets Committee, said the Federal Security Service (FSB) has urged restricting foreign investment in the so-called natural monopolies sector.

Tarachev said the FSB made its recommendation in relation to a bill on the restriction of foreign investment that now under review by his committee.

The bill lists 39 business activities that would be closed to foreign investment, including the nuclear industry and the weapons industry.

“Now the FSB wants to add to that list natural monopolies and mass communications,” Tarachev said.

The concept of "natural monopolies" includes such sectors as railways, telecommunications, electricity, and natural gas.

Tarachev added that the Duma will hear the first reading of the bill on April 10.

(Rosbalt)