Russia's economy would grow an extra one percentage point per year if it manages to join the World Trade Organisation, the head of the World Bank's office in Moscow said Monday, according to a report by the agency Prime-Tass. Kristalina Georgieva said the World Bank worked out the economic impact for every country seeking to join the WTO and "for Russia that comes in around one percent" of gross domestic product.
The Russian government said GDP last year was 7.1 percent but forecast that would slow to 5.8 percent this year.
Moscow hopes to conclude bilateral accords with WTO members this year to permit its entry, but faces a tough time convincing the United States and Japan.