VLADIMIR PUTIN
ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE
OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
VLADIMIR PUTIN

Working Day

9 december, 2008 15:00

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin met with Vneshtorgbank Chairman Andrei Kostin

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin met with Vneshtorgbank Chairman Andrei Kostin
The two officials discussed the VTB Group’s performance, in particular lending to the defence industry, the auto industry, the airline industry, housing construction, the ferrous and nonferrous metals sector, retail trade, agricultural engineering and power generation.

Transcript of the start of the meeting:

Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon. How's your operation?

Andrei Kostin: The bank's operation is stable, Mr Putin. I would like to report a 65% growth in the group's loan portfolio across Russia in the past 11 months. It even grew 25% over September, October and November, amid generally tightening markets, to 2 trillion roubles from 1.2 trillion.

Vladimir Putin: To what sectors?

Andrei Kostin: Our current priorities are the defence industry, the auto industry, housing construction, the airline industry, the ferrous and nonferrous metals sector, retail trade, agricultural engineering and power generation.

Vladimir Putin: You and I have visited the jet engine and gas turbine producer, Saturn. How are they doing?

Andrei Kostin: We disbursed the first 3.5 billion-rouble tranche to Saturn on Monday, which the company used to refinance bond liabilities. The agreement envisages two more tranches, all totalling 11.5 billion roubles - I mean the agreement you have mediated in Rybinsk. Saturn will have stable financing, and we will have no problem implementing new technologies.

Vladimir Putin: That's good.