(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-02-09 10:15

Excessive centralization has remained one of the main problems of the modern public administration, he said, adding that the governmental system in Russia is too bureaucratic and is not motivated for dynamic development.

"Today's governmental bodies are a very bureaucratic, corrupt system which is not motivated for positive changes, let alone dynamic development," he said.

"The government makes any decision, even the simplest one, for months and sometimes years."

Putin stressed that the government should be a center, which develops strategic plans, approves federal programs, with clearly set tasks and assessment criteria, rather than to get bogged down in redundant trivialities.

With regard to economic development, Putin said that Russia could double its gross domestic product (GDP) by the end of 2009 if the current economic growth rate could be maintained.

"The country's GDP has grown 72 percent since 2000. If current GDP growth of 7.2 percent is sustained, then GDP could be doubled as early as the end of next year, 2009," Putin said.

While talking about the existing problems in Russia's economic development, Putin called for a reduction in the state-controlled sector of the economy and for more private investment incentives.

He said that Russia can no longer afford maintaining the massive state-owned sector it has today. "It is apparent that the state is unable to and does not need to run such a large state-owned sector."

According to Russia's Statistics Service, Russia's GDP growth reached 8.1 percent last year.

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