OREANDA-NEWS. December 15, 2008. Asia-Invest Bank, a subsidiary of National Bank for Foreign Economic Activity of Uzbekistan (NBU) in Russia, plans to open a USD 25 million credit line in 2009 to Russian distributors of the auto plant GM Uzbekistan.

The financing will be provided to distributors that are wholly owned by Uzavtoprom. The credit line will be directed to help distributors to increase sales of GM Uzbekistan in Russia.

GM Uzbekistan's sales in Russia fell 25% in October-November 2008, according to Uzbek media. About 15,000 cars were returned to Uzbekistan in September-November because they were not selling in Russia.

GM Uzbekistan is a joint venture between US automaker General Motors (GM) and Uzavtoprom. GM holds 25% plus one share in the joint venture, while Uzavtoprom holds the remaining 75%.