Russia's Ministry of Education Counts on EBRD Money to Develop Information Technologies

The Ministry of Education of Russia intends to apply to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) for a USD 150 million loan to pay for developing information technologies and creating a system of remote education. This is according to the government's Department of Information, quoting Deputy Prime Minister, Valentina Matviyenko. Mrs. Matviyenko made a statement to this effect after her meeting with Julian Schweizer, the bank's Director.

Mr. Matviyenko said that a loan agreement was being drafted and discussed with the bank by the Ministry of Education. The actual governmental decision as to taking out the loan is expected some time in the coming February. Another loan being also considered should pay for AIDS and tuberculosis research and prophylactics.

Mrs. Matviyenko assessed cooperation with the EBRD as satisfactory, adding that the total worth of the programmes the bank had carried in Russia over the past years amounted to USD 500 million.