(Adds quote, detail) MOSCOW, Nov 12 (Reuters) - The Russian economy was on track to post its strongest growth in 13 years and expand by 4.7% in 2021, President Vladimir Putin said on Friday, voicing a more optimistic forecast than those of the central bank and the government. The Russian oil-dependent economy has already recovered to pre-pandemic levels after falling 3% in 2020, its sharpest contraction in 11 years. But its further expansion may face headwinds from higher interest rates and external shocks. “In 2021, according to our estimates, it [economic growth] will reach up to 4.7%. Certainly, it’s not the highest growth in the region but not the lowest. This is quite a good result for our economy,” Putin said. Such economic growth would be the strongest since 2008 when Russia’s gross domestic product grew by 5.2% before falling by 7.8% next year. The economy ministry has predicted 4.2% growth this year, while the central bank expects expansion of 4.0%-4.5% and then a slowing to 2.0%-3.0% in 2022. (Reporting by Darya Korsunskaya; Writing by Andrey Ostroukh; Editing by Alison Williams and Steve Orlofsky)