OREANDA-NEWS. September 30, 2008. The Russian Bank for Development has participated in the Russian-German conference “Business-incubating as a mechanism for SME development at regional and municipal levels. Creation and development of business-incubators in Russia”, which took place in Penza, reported the press-centre of RBD.

In his report Yuri Bobyr, Director of the RBD Department for SME Programs’ Development fixed on the importance of business-incubators for SMEs development in Russia. According to Mr. Bobyr, RBD being part of the State Corporation “Bank for Development and Foreign Economic Affairs (Vnesheconombank)” supports small and mid-sized enterprises and focusing on the SME infrastructure support.

In this area RBD is working out pilot projects with infrastructure organizations including creation of business-incubators. Alongside the Bank is actively cooperating with regional executive authorities in respect of reduction of construction costs of the infrastructure facilities and SME services cost reduction.

Representatives of regional authorities, directors of business-incubators in Russia and Germany, representatives from the Association of regional banks of Russia, KFW as well as research institutions and NGOs took part in the conference.