Budget Ends H1 With a Surplus

The federal budget in the first half of 2013 received almost 6.3 trillion rubles ($192 billion), according to preliminary estimations, while spending only 5,950 trillion rubles, resulting in a net budget surplus of 307 billion rubles, or one percent of GDP, Interfax reported. (MT)

Siemens Signs Partnership Deal

Mining company UMMC and Siemens signed a strategic partnership agreement in Yekaterinburg on Thursday, according to which the two companies plan to jointly implement a project to produce equipment for steam and power generation, Interfax reported. (MT)

Customs Make Exception for Skolkovo

The Federal Customs Service published a draft order on Thursday that would give the Skolkovo Innovation Сenter preferential customs treatment on all goods it imports from abroad, Vedomosti reported. (MT)