IMF sees Russian GDP growing 7 pct in 2007 -agencies

MOSCOW, May 25 (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund expects the Russia's gross domestic product (GDP) to grow at least 7 percent in 2007, news agencies quoted the head of the IMF Mission in Russia as saying on Friday.

"We expect that oil prices will remain high, capital inflows will remain high, investor confidence is very steady and labour productivity will continue to grow," Interfax news agency quoted Poul Thomsen as telling a news conference. "Based on this, we expect that GDP will grow 7 percent. If there are any risks in changing the forecast, it will be upward," Thomsen was quoted as saying.

RIA Novosti agency also quoted Thomsen as saying the IMF expected Russian gross domestic product growth to slowdown slightly next year from 2007.

Russia is targetting GDP growth of 6.5 percent this year and 6.1 percent in 2008, compared to 6.8 percent in 2006.

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