Russian government ownership of various companies and organizations, collectively known as state-owned enterprises (SOEs), still play an important role in the national economy. The approximately 4,100 enterprises that have some degree of state ownership accounted for 39% of all employment in 2007 (down from over 80% in 1990).[1][2] In 2007, SOEs controlled 64% of the banking sector, 47% of the oil and gas sector, and 37% of the utility sector.[2]
State corporations are established by the Russian government to boost industrial sectors.[3] Rosstat figures show that 529,300 enterprises are partly or wholly owned by the state, of which between 30,000 and 31,000 are commercial companies (generating revenue).[4] The 54 largest enterprises account for over two-thirds of the total revenues generated by state-owned organizations.[4] SOEs account for 40% of the capitalization on the Russian stock market, one of the highest shares in the world.[4]