OREANDA-NEWS. August 20, 2008. The Russian Finance Ministry is exploring the option of assigning some cash from the National Welfare Fund to VEB for management, Alexey Kudrin said. "Possibly, VEB will manage a separate package, for which we'll make other requirements.

This will be not financial investments, but direct investments. Such a scenario is under review, but has yet to be decided" - the minister said.

He pointed out that if such decision is taken, at the initial stage VEB will invest in foreign projects. Kudrin did not specify the amount that could be allocated to VEB for management. He noted that currently under review is the option of investing pension funds on the Russian market.