A multimedia press conference of the Chairman of the Committee of the State Duma of the Russian Federation on Economic Policy, Industry, innovative Development and Entrepreneurship was held on December 21 at the press center "Russia Today"Sergey Zhigarev.

In his speech, Mr. Zhigarev summed up the results of the year, told about the Committee's work plans for 2018 and answered journalists' questions.

Among other things, they discussed the investment climate, state programs to support domestic industries, the digital economy, work on draft laws related to regions such as the Republic of Crimea and the Kaliningrad Region, and the economic and the humanitarian effect of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the legislative regulation of the alcohol market and the promotion of a healthy lifestyle.

Speaking about state support for small and medium-sized businesses, Mr. Zhigarev noted light industry enterprises. "In July 2017, a law was passed on the inclusion of light industry enterprises with more than 250 people employed in production and annual revenue of no more than 2 billion rubles in the MSMP state support system. As you understand, first of all, this support will help our light industry compete with China. The simplified taxation system will allow those garment industries that have been engaged in counterfeiting to come out of the shadows, and others to breathe more freely, the official noted.