OREANDA-NEWS. April 6, 2009. This year VEB intends to extend 30 billion rubles to support small and medium-sized business, Vnesheconombank Chairman Vladimir Dmitriev said at a meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev at the Head of State’s country residence “Gorki”.

“This year we intend to extend 30 billion rubles through the Russian Development Bank to support small and medium-sized business” said V.Dmitriev.

According to him, “this year, as a whole, we are going to achieve a level of 60 billion rubles both through our banks and regional ones’.

V.Dmitriev reminded that last year 20 billion rubles were committed to support small and medium-sized business through the system of banks that cooperate with VEB.

“We expect that out of 130 billion rubles declared as VEB’s additional assets, 30 billion rubles will be committed to support small and medium-sized business”, he added.

V.Dmitriev said that with due regard to great importance which is being attached now to small and medium-sized business loan rates are expected to remain at the last year’s level.

“In 2008, credit rates amounted to 16% on average, and to 20% and higher on average in the banking system”, said V.Dmitriev.

“This year the situation is more complicated”, said D.Dmitriev.

“We are trying to be in line with this indicator”, said VEB’s Chairman.

“These are not market borrowings and the end borrower will be able obtain credits at preferential rates rather than market ones”, added V.Dmitriev.