EDB and Agency for Strategic Initiatives Sign Memorandum of Cooperation in Krasnoyarsk
Krasnoyarsk, 17 February 2012. The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) and the Agency for Strategic Initiatives (ASI) signed today a memorandum of cooperation in supporting medium-sized businesses. The document was signed at the 9th Krasnoyarsk Economic Forum.
Gennady Zhuzhlev, Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board, signed the memorandum on the part of the EDB and Artyom Avetisyan, Director for New Business, on the part of the ASI.
The parties agreed to develop long-term efficient and mutually beneficial cooperation with the aim of developing Russian economy and supporting medium-sized businesses in Russia.
The EDB and the ASI will work on the promotion and fulfilment of socially important business projects, the improvement of the business and investment climate, the identification and removal of barriers to businesses, and the promotion of the best practices of supporting medium-sized businesses in Russia.
“It is very important that we signed the memorandum of cooperation at the Krasnoyarsk forum, because it encompasses a great deal of entrepreneurs and they are those whom we work for since the Agency’s main task is to support projects.” Artyom Avetisyan said after signing the document. “We are particularly interested in cooperation with the Eurasian Development Bank because it invests, among other things, in projects implemented by medium-sized businesses. At the same time, the Bank pays significant attention to the environmental component of these projects. All these things are very important to Russian entrepreneurs who apply to the Agency for support of their projects.”
“We view the Agency for Strategic Initiatives as an additional source of quality projects in Russia,” Gennady Zhuzhlev said. “The ASI screens and examines a great deal of Russian projects and this is the assistance we count on in the first place. We are also interested in ASI’s close ties with Russian regions. This can provide additional opportunities to us as regards the implementation of joint projects with administrations of Russian regions.”
The EDB is a regular participant in the Krasnoyask Economic Forum. This year the Bank’s delegation included Igor Finogenov, Chairman of the Executive Board, his deputies Gennady Zhuzhlev and Dmitry Zhurba, and managers of the Bank’s structural divisions.
The Bank’s interest in this most representative forum in Siberia is not accidental. The key topics brought to discussion include strategic initiatives to develop Russia and its regions, promising projects, and investments, innovations and infrastructure in Siberia.
These themes have practical meaning to the Bank. The EDB has fulfilled or is taking part in a number of large investment projects in the Siberian Federal District.
In 2009 the EDB financed a project of the Siberian Coal Energy Company (SUEK) to re-equip its coal mines in Kemerovo Oblast, Khakassia and Buryatia. The Bank’s resources were used to replace outdated BelAZ dump trucks with more powerful > 220-tonne Belarusian vehicles.
Since 2010 the Bank has been financing the NITOL Group’s project to launch Russia’s first polycrystalline silicon production in Irkutsk Oblast. Polysilicon is the main material used in solar energy. The Bank has invested $100m for these purposes.
In December 2010 Russia’s largest and Trans-Ural’s only medium-density fibre (MDF) board plant was launched in Tomsk. MDF is a modern material used in furniture production and low-rise construction. This is another EDB’s project with $95m investment.
Additional Information
The Agency for Strategic Initiatives to Promote New Projects is an autonomous non-for-profit organisation founded in pursuance of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s instruction dated 17 May 2011. In accordance with its charter, the Agency’s founder is the Government of the Russian Federation. Its mission is to create opportunities for the self-fulfilment of young and ambitious leaders who are capable of brining Russia to world’s leading positions and building a country, in which one would want to live and work."
For additional information about the Agency for Strategic Initiatives please visit href="https://www.asi.ru"> color="#0000ff">www.asi.ru