Russia's gross domestic product ( GDP) grew 6.4 percent in 2005, Economic Development and Trade Minister German Gref said on Monday.

Gref told President Vladimir Putin at a cabinet meeting that the growth rate was higher than the forecast of 5.9 percent, the Interfax news agency reported.

Putin has set a target of doubling the country's GDP by 2010 but Gref said in June 2005 that Putin's target was "not realistic. "

To meet the target, the Russian economy will have to grow at an average annual rate of above 7.0 percent.

Industrial output rose 4 percent in 2005, which is lower than predicted. Real income for Russians grew 8.8 percent and real wages were up 9.7 percent, Gref said.

Investment in the Russian economy grew 10.5 percent last year, he said.

Source: Xinhua