OREANDA-NEWS. August 1, 2008. The recent laws supporting small business are just the first step in the overall work to develop small and medium enterprises in Russia, Dmitry Medvedev said at a meeting on protecting small and medium businesses’ property rights in the town of Gagarin.

Work must continue on tackling the main problems the business community faces: pressure from the authorities and the law enforcement agencies, corruption, and cumbersome registration and accounting rules.

Carrying out the anti-corruption programme will be a major part of efforts to improve the business climate. Mr Medvedev announced the programme’s signing at the meeting.

But the President also noted that businesspeople themselves must show a responsible attitude and not overstep the law.

The law enforcement agencies, the state in general, and the business community must all work together on creating a good investment climate in Russia. This is a common task that must be addressed if the country is to achieve the goals it has set, Mr Medvedev said.