"I would also like to draw your attention, colleagues, that external pressures on our economy remain, and thanks to the implementation of the President's instructions and flexible changes in the regulatory framework, the government, in coordination with the Central Bank, has managed to neutralize many challenges - supporting our citizens and institutions with various types of economic activity," Mishustin said during the opening of the cabinet meeting, at which the draft Russian federal budget for 2024 is being discussed. "According to the Ministry of Economic Development's preliminary assessment, GDP rose by more than 2% over seven months, and what is important is that this was largely facilitated by the growth of the manufacturing industry, as well as the restructuring of transport and logistics communications and increased investment activity, in the first half of the year," he added.