The White House Says The Number Of U.S. Eximbank's Partners From Among Russian Commercial Banks Will Increase

The Export-Import Bank (Eximbank), which is part of the U.S. government's structure, plans to extend its operation in Russia and increase in the near future the number of its partners from among Russian commercial banks from the present 15 to 20, the White House press service reported on Wednesday. According to official materials of the Vladimir Putin- George Bush summit, distributed by the press service, since December 2000 Eximbank has been working, together with 15 solvent commercial banks in Russia, on short- and medium-term projects. Eximbank has also begun implementing a programme for cooperation with Russian cities and regions, including Moscow, St. Petersburg, the Samara Region, and Bashkortostan. The report said that within the next few weeks Eximbank's Board of Directors is to finally approve the granting of the first 15-million-dollar loan under this program for modernising artificial lighting at primary and secondary schools in St. Petersburg.