Today, the Belarusian President met with the head of the largest bank of Russia - Sberbank’s CEO and Chairman Herman Gref.
Alexander Lukashenko and Herman Gref discussed the situation in the global economy, as well as its impact on the financial sectors in Belarus and Russia. The meeting was also attended by Russian businessman Mikhail Gutseriyev. A separate topic of the talks was the development of relations with Sberbank, which has a subsidiary structure of BPS-Sberbank in Belarus. Today, the financial holding company is the largest investor in the Belarusian economy. Belarus suggested Sberbank expand its activities in the Belarusian market.
Herman Gref, the Chairman of the Executive Board of Sberbank: "Thank you for the opportunity to meet and for your constructive attitude. Sberbank in Belarus is a major player in the market. Since 2014, we have been increasing our portfolio in difficult times. Now the situation is much more stable. I believe this year will be much better than 2015 and 2016. Next year, we expect to reach profits."
Sberbank is one of the largest commercial banks in Russia. Its subsidiaries operate in more than 20 countries. In the annual Top 1,000 World Banks ranking, the bank ranks first among financial institutions in Central and Eastern Europe. Last year, the Sberbank group invested about $0.5 billion in the Belarusian oil sector. About $61 million was invested in the country's energy complex.
