31 Mar 2010 14:45

VEB made 31 bln rubles net profit in 2009

MOSCOW. March 31 (Interfax) - Vnesheconombank (VEB) had net profit of approximately 31 billion rubles in 2009, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said, opening a meeting of the state development bank's supervisory board.

"This is on a par with such a major lending organization as Sberbank ," Putin said.

VEB issued 123 billion rubles in fresh loans to the real sector.

It also issued 34 billion rubles in guarantees for a program to promote exports of innovatory products, and set 40 billion rubles aside for small and medium business development in 2009.