The State Duma introduced “Mir” cards 7 years late, which will deprive the West of $4 billion a year
The State Duma today adopted in the third reading the law on the transition of public sector employees to the “World” card. Such a step could have been taken 7 years ago; the West’s losses would have amounted to $4 billion a year, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
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The bill provides for a gradual transition to the “World” card for state employees and pensioners. Banks will have to ensure the acceptance of Mir cards at all cash desks and ATMs by July 1, 2017 (180 banks have already become participants in the Russian payment system, cards are accepted by ATMs and 80 percent of terminals). From July 1, when public sector employees apply to open a new account, banks will be required to issue a Mir card.
Deputy Igor Divinsky from United Russia assured that the issuance of Mir cards to pensioners will be free. “There will be no service charge. I emphasize that everything is free. In the future, various housing and social programs will be connected to the card. “The world will become international,” he said.
Deputy Sergei Ivanov from the LDPR recalled that the mass introduction of “Peace” cards was discussed in Russia 7 years ago. Then the Western press reported losses on the Russian market of up to $4 billion a year. It is interesting that after this the adoption of the amendment by State Duma deputies was postponed.
“We are only adopting an amendment today, 7 years later. And 4 billion dollars were received by comrades from overseas for seven years,” Ivanov said. According to him, those responsible for the delays in introducing Mir “still sit in the Ministry of Finance and the government.”
The State Duma, 7 years late , introduced the Mir cards, which will deprive the West of $4 billion a year.