Programme

RUSSIA’S AMBITIONS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE: HOW TO FINANCE IT?

Realizing Russia’s Potential
Panel discussion
Pavilion 4, Hall 4.1, Arena


Russia is looking to modernize and expand its infrastructure on a large scale, including transport, energy, and related urban infrastructure. This will require fresh approaches in attracting huge private-sector investment, coupled with public-sector support and participation. What international models might Russia look to in designing integrated and efficient approaches to coordinating various infrastructure initiatives and what steps should the government take to attract private-sector investment partners?


Moderator:
Yermolai Solzhenitsyn , Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company

Panellists
Oleg Budargin , Director General, Chairman of the Management Board, Rosseti
Yves-Thibault de Silguy , Vice President, MEDEF International
Maxim Sokolov , Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation
Yuri Soloviev , First Deputy President and Chairman of the Management Board, JSC VTB Bank
David Fass , Chief Executive Officer for Europe, Middle East and Africa, Macquarie
Andrei Sharonov , Dean, Moscow School of Management SKOLKOVO
Vladimir Yakunin , Chairman of Supervisory Board, DOC Research Institute; Doctor of Political Science

Broadcast

Key moments

On the one hand, the world is swimming in money, just as before. On the other hand, we cannot find the funds for infrastructure projects. I think one reason for this is that much of the infrastructure sector in Russia functions on a social basis rather than an economic one.
Andrei Sharonov
As for the attractiveness of infrastructure development [in Russia] – I don’t think there are any problems.
Vladimir Yakunin
If we are talking about development, about advanced development, then the first thing we need to do is to invest money in modernisation.
Oleg Budargin
There is enough money; there is more than enough money to get these projects taken care of. But in fact, the returns that we, as equity investors, are getting from infrastructure projects are now down to single digits.
David Fass