The Russian Economic Development and Trade Ministry raised its forecast for GDP growth in 2007 from 6.2 percent to 6.5 percent, Andrei Klepach, director of the ministry's macroeconomic forecasting department, said in Kazan on Friday.

The revise follows the positive results of the first two months of 2007 and a review of the forecast for industrial production, Klepach was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying.

Russian GDP and industrial production grew 8.4 percent and 8.6 percent respectively in January-February 2007.

The forecast for industrial production in 2007 has also been raised to 5.2 percent from 4.3 percent, he said.

The forecasts for GDP growth and industrial production in the 2008-2010 period have been increased as well, Klepach said.

According to the ministry's updated forecast, GDP growth in Russia will be 6.1 percent in 2008, 6.0 percent in 2009 and 6.2 percent in 2010.

In addition to the positive results of the first two months, higher expectations for the machine building and metallurgical industries also played a key role in the revised forecasts.

Source: Xinhua