RDIF aims to raise over $10 bln for infrastructure projects in Russia
MOSCOW. Dec 5 (Interfax) - The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) plans to raise more than $10 billion from foreign investors to finance infrastructure projects in Russia, RDIF chief executive Kirill Dmitriev told reporters Thursday on the sidelines of the international forum Transport of Russia.
"We believe that the amount of investment that we will raise for infrastructure in Russia, that from foreign participants it will exceed $10 billion. This is literally in the near future," Dmitriev said.
As successful examples of raising private investment, Dmitriev cited projects such as the Western High-Speed Diameter in St. Petersburg and the construction of a toll road by-passing Odintsovo.
"Investors are prepared to invest on this model, because it's not something completely new, it already works, so there is currently a fairly large flow of those interested in our transport projects," Dmitriev said, adding that there is interest from many investors who can invest in the development of roads and airports.
The RDIF is interested in buying the state stake in OJSC Novorossiysk Commercial Sea Port (NCSP) and investing in the port at Taman. It is also looking to take part in transportation projects in Moscow and Moscow Region, including the building of the Central Ring Road and buying cars for the Moscow subway. "The possibility of investing in transport-transfer hubs is being studied. For each of these projects there are already two or three international investors," Dmitriev said.
It was reported earlier the RDIF intends to participate in the creation of a system to collect payments from trucks costing 26 billion rubles. It has formed a consortium with Lanit, Rostelecom , France's Vinci and VTB.