Alexander Lukashenko has met with the president of the Russian Sberbank G. Gref.

A. Lukashenko expressed a high interest of Belarus in collaboration with Russian Sberbank. “We are interested in attracting recourses from Russian Federation, from Russian Central Bank, as we are directly connected with them, especially during the period of the world financial crisis, when we are seeking for additional resources in order to support the national currency” – said the head of the state in his speech addressing G. Gref. Meanwhile the president pointed out that the financial crisis didn’t have a significant influence on the stock and money markets in Belarus, still Belarusian exporters have certain difficulties as the demand on the products went down.

A. Lukashenko expressed a high interest of Belarus in collaboration with Russian Sberbank. “We are interested in attracting recourses from Russian Federation, from Russian Central Bank, as we are directly connected with them, especially during the period of the world financial crisis, when we are seeking for additional resources in order to support the national currency” – said the head of the state in his speech addressing G. Gref. Meanwhile the president pointed out that the financial crisis didn’t have a significant influence on the stock and money markets in Belarus, still Belarusian exporters have certain difficulties as the demand on the products went down.

In its turn G.Gref said that the Russian Sberbank is intended to enter Belarus as a strategic partner. “Today Sberbank is big in its extent for one country only” – he said and informed the president of Belarus that the Supervisory board of the bank has confirmed the concept of its development for the 5 forthcoming years, which specifies an active collaboration of the bank on the intrnational level. The countries which have been chosen as priorities are the Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan.

Sberbank is currently takes into consideration either the possibility to buy an existing bank in Belarus or to open a new one. In the nearest future Sberbank is going to start working with National bank of Belarus on the development of the ways to enter the Belarusian market. The Russian banker expressed an assurance that both parties will be able to come to an agreement on the mutually beneficial basis. The strategy of Sberbank to work on the Belarusian market is defined for 10-20 years.

According to G. Gref the Belarusian market is the top priority for Sberbank among the CIS countries. “we hope that we will be able to establish a long term and effective collaboration,” – he pointed out.

G. Gref believes that the forthcoming year is going to be difficult and that is why countries are to coordinate their actions to prevent the possible negative consequences of the financial crisis. He stressed that the economies of Belarus and Russia should be connected in different ways so that a positive effect is provided in different spheres of collaboration.”

The president approved of the plans of Sberbank to enter the Belarusian market. “There are no obstacles for your bank to work on the territory of Belarus,”- A. Lukashenko underlined.

By the press service of the president of the republic of Belarus