MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's huge resources and a consumer products boom promise robust growth for another decade, but recent events including war in Georgia underscore the political risks to its financial markets.
Top executives and policy makers will examine the country's path in a series of exclusive interviews at the second Reuters Russia Investment Summit to be held September 8-10.
The Kremlin aims to lift Russia's $1.3 trillion economy into the world's top five by 2020. Now among the 10 largest, it is set to double its 2003 size by 2010, two years earlier than anticipated.
Retail and infrastructure are emerging as rising stars as the country attempts to cut dependence on commodity exports.
Its $600 billion in gold and foreign exchange reserves, the world's third biggest, have helped Russia remain resilient to the global credit crunch.
RECENT TURBULENCE
But Russia has taken a hit since its stock market reached its high after new President Dmitry Medvedev took over in May from his political mentor Vladimir Putin, who became prime minister.
Putin's July attack on coal miner Mechel (MTL.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) revived memories of oil firm YUKOS's demise and the war in Georgia caused the biggest fall since the aftermath of Russia's 1998 financial meltdown as investors dumped Russian assets.
