Интервью Председателя Внешэкономбанка В.А. Дмитриева телеканалу CNBC

ВЕДУЩИЙ: I introduce you Vladimir Dmitriev. He joins us from VEB, which is the state bank for development effectively. It's so good to see you. Thanks very much for joining us. Can I ask you first of about the role of VEB in providing support within the Russian economy? How critical is this organization to help in major infrastructure projects here?

Vladimir DMITRIEV, Chairman, VEB: VEB, which is the bank for development and foreign economic affairs, was designed as one of the several institutions, which mission is to support development of the Russian Federation and to overcome infrastructure restrictions for economic growth. We started as the bank for development, but then we set up several affiliated structures to VEB, which now covers the whole spectrum of institutions to support economic growth of the Russian Federation and to support industrial export of Russian production abroad.

ВЕДУЩИЙ: So, let me put this question to you. I asked the gentleman who was just here from the Direct Investment Fund the same question. If you need a development organization like yours to invest in the economy, there is a market failure. The market itself should allocate capital efficiently to those projects that are appropriate for the economy and provide the greatest return on the capital. The fact that you exist and are growing - doesn't that represent a failure of the government to built a legitimate and efficient market economy?

Vladimir DMITRIEV: Good issue. But the answer is that we still, we as the country and we as participant of economic growth, and they, our partners abroad, major private equity funds, major sovereign funds, they need a support and assistance from the government to share with them risks, which are relevant to Russian economy. And certainly the mission of Russian Direct Investment Fund of VEB is not only to attract foreign investors but to crate environment for Russian investors to come into real sectors of our economy.

ВЕДУЩИЙ: And as I know, there is no embarrassment about this, look what is going on with the IMF and other agencies across Europe at the moment. We have market failure in all sorts of areas. But Russia has relatively strong fundamentals on that side. So this question that has troubled Southern Europe isn't an issue here. So let me then compact you. Why are there so many stories here, lot we read about, when there is misallocation of capital or allocations of it? Sochi is a good example of that. I think, VEB has been on the record about that. And there are other cases. Why are there problems still?

Vladimir DMITRIEV: Because some of the projects we have never done before, and of course we need a lot of problems, which we couldn't anticipate, and technological, technical, environmental issue in terms of Olympic Games. I am completely sure that all the hotels, sport equipments and so on - they will be done and set up in appropriate time. But of course we do care and we have some concerns about profitability of those projects. But on the other hand we have the guarantee of the state in form of special entity designed to give comfort both to investors and to creditors. You mentioned other issues. Of course we are not ideal, so to speak, but I come to the conclusion that as soon as Russia changes, as soon as our legislation is changing, routes for investors are changing in favor of investors, we trace the change of mind and approach towards Russia from investors. Just now we had a seminar where major investors, major international financial institutions, major private investors and sovereign funds participated in. And everybody came to the conclusion: although there are some problems here but Russia is more and more investment attractive for investors.

ВЕДУЩИЙ: The trouble is: in the forum where everybody can see you put your hand up, everybody says it's a great place to invest, when you talk to them in the corridors they say: "It may be a little early for me to put my own money in so far". And I would come back to this because it seems to me that your operation, its role has shifted, there is mission creep of VEB, it's almost so that government is starting to use you as part of the economy ministry to crop up the economy or support elements of the economy where it's not prepared to do that by encouraging direct investment trough liberalizing the economy, following trough the reform process and changing the legal a protections that you have as a foreign investor. Get all those done, you wouldn't need to exist.

Vladimir DMITRIEV: No. Look at Germany where we have KFW, the major institution for development. I didn't hear any doubts about the prudence of economy and governance in Germany. But still they need that sort of institution to finance and to allocate funds in crucial sectors of economy in supporting small and medium enterprises, in supporting development in other countries. That's the reason for us to exist. And that's the proof of our efficiency. If state relies upon us, if we are visible in the major sectors of our economy, that means that we are needed and we efficient enough to be relied by the government. On the other hand of course still we have some problems, but I know pretty well that the government, the president, the legislative power - they work very hard to improve environment in our country.

ВЕДУЩИЙ: Well, I hope it all works. Because if it does you will see a lot of money flooding into the Russian economy. Vladimir, it's been a pleasure. Thanks very much for giving us so much of your time. Vladimir Dmitriev joining from VEB.