Aug 25. The Russian government expects to raise the middle class and bring average wages to USD 30,000 a year by 2020. After a meeting chaired by Russian PM Vladimir Putin that was dedicated to the workout of the country's development concept until 2020, Economic Development and Trade Minister Elvira Nabiullina said that the concept calls for improving the conditions of the middle class. "The concept includes ambitious goals of propelling the national economy to a new phase of innovative development... This opens up the opportunity of creating new jobs for highly qualified workers. The target is set to increase the middle class" – Nabiullina said. She pointed out that close attention will be devoted to the budget-financed sectors of the economy. According to the minister, the average wage should amount to USD 30,000 a year by 2020. As the minister noted, the concept of securing Russia's economic leadership also presupposes changes in living, behavior standards, including economic behavior. "Even the attractive lifestyle for a comfort living and the opportunity for everyone to realize his/her potential also relates to Russia's leadership position" – she said.