USD 2–4 Billion Russia-China Investment Fund to Be Created by Late June 2012, Sectors to Receive the First Investments by End of 2012 Announced
MOSCOW, 28 April 2012 — During a meeting held today as part of the China-Russia Investment
and Trade Forum, First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Igor Shuvalov and Executive
Vice-Premier of the State Council of China Li Keqiang announced the dates to
create the Russia-China Investment Fund and outlined the sectors earmarked for
the first investments.
“By creating the Russia-China Investment Fund, the RDIF and China
Investment Corporation will once again highlight the strong results of economic cooperation between
Russia and China,” Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund
(RDIF), said during the meeting between Igor Shuvalov and Li Keqiang. “The Fund’s
capital is planned to reach USD 4 billion, with the RDIF and China
Investment Corporation each contributing USD 1 billion and the remaining
USD 2 billion coming from other Chinese institutional investors. The
Fund is to be established by the end of June 2012.”
Mr Dmitriev also outlined
industries to receive the first investments: these will include engineering, agriculture,
forest and timber industries, transportation, and logistics. “Special attention
will be given to energy efficiency and energy saving projects”, he added. “Up to
70 per cent of the Fund’s capital will be invested in businesses and projects across
Russia and other CIS countries, and the remaining 30 per cent will focus on Chinese
businesses and projects with Russian involvement. The Russian economy
might see hundreds of millions of dollars in joint investments from Russia and
China as early as the end of 2012.”
RDIF executives and China
Investment Corporation also met today to hold talks led by CIC Chairman and CEO
Lou Jiwei.
To manage the Fund, a
Management Company is currently being established, with the RDIF and CIC as the
founders controlling 60 and 40 per cent of the equity, respectively. The RDIF
will nominate most of the key executives for the Management Company while also
supervising the activities to search, select, analyse and evaluate investment
projects appealing for the Fund.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Russian Direct
Investment Fund is committed to enhancing and expanding ties between Russia and
China. In late 2011, the RDIF and China Investment Corporation signed a
memorandum to establish the Russia-China Investment Fund (the “Fund”) at a
meeting between prime ministers of Russia and China. Focused predominantly on
investments within Russia, the Fund aims to invest in projects and companies
involved in economic collaboration between Russia and China, helping to further
promote it.
The RDIF has built strong
ties with CIC, offering investment opportunities for the Chinese fund to
consider on a regular basis and meeting with executives and shareholders of
target companies to discuss potential projects. The RDIF and CIC are also
working together to evaluate the investment appeal of a number of projects.
The Fund will have a
target capital of up to USD 4 billion, with USD 1 billion coming from
the RDIF and CIC each and up to USD 2 billion expected to be raised
from other China-based institutional investors.
Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) was established in
June 2011. The RDIF will be capitalized with USD 10 billion in Russian
government funds over the next five years and is charged with making equity
investments that generate strong returns, primarily in Russia. In each
investment it makes, the RDIF is required to secure co-investment that at
minimum matches its commitment, thus acting as a catalyst for direct investment
into the Russian economy.