DUSHANBE, March 12, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Moscow will host the 41st session of the CIS Economic Council on March 13, according to the CIS Executive Committee press service.

In all, 19 issues have been tabled to the session’s agenda and the draft plan of actions for implementation of the first stage of the CIS economic development strategy designed for the period till 2020 is among major topics of the session.

The first stage (2009-2011) includes measures to minimize effects of the global financial crisis.

The strategy, in particular, provides for expansion of interaction between the CIS states in implementing interstate programs in energy, transportation and agrarian sectors.  A special attention is paid to increase of competitiveness of manufactured products and introduction of innovative technologies.  In the social sphere, priority is given to ensuring employment of the population, creating new jobs and harmonizing national employment and labor migration laws.

Some items of the plan concern expansion of integration cooperation between the CIS states in sectors like commerce and trade, fuel-and-energy complex, currency and financial sphere, environmental protection, etc.

The Economic Council will also consider prognosis on production and use of energy resources within the CIS that will help develop national energy programs.  CIS experts expect primary energy resources exports to increase 1.7 times by 2020 compared to 2006, the press service said.