Kirill Dmitriev, the Russian president’s special representative for investment and economic cooperation and head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), said Russia plans to set up a centre in Vietnam for the distribution of next-generation Russian vaccines. The platform will be used not only for domestic supplies within Vietnam but also for exports to other Asian countries, Dmitriev told Vesti following talks with Vietnam’s sovereign fund on the sidelines of the Russia-ASEAN summit in Kazan.
The RDIF chief stressed that Vietnam is a fast-growing and important partner for Russia, and beyond vaccines the two sides plan numerous joint projects in infrastructure, technology and agriculture. He noted that healthcare cooperation would become a key growth area, and the new centre would help strengthen the position of Russian products on the Asian market.
A partnership agreement between RDIF and Vietnam’s State Capital Investment Corporation (SCIC) was also signed on the summit sidelines. Dmitriev said the two countries’ funds would focus on supporting long-term economic growth and creating new business opportunities, in line with the national development priorities of both states.
Earlier, Vladimir Yevtushenkov, founder of the Russian diversified investment holding AFK Sistema, spoke about the process of Russian businesses entering Southeast Asian markets. He said the corporation plans, among other things, to set up joint drug production and launch drug certification in Thailand.
