OREANDA-NEWS. December 24, 2013. Dmitry Patrushev, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Russian Agricultural Bank, the main lender to Russian agribusiness, endorses the need for retaining people in rural areas.

President Vladimir Putin, delivering his annual Address to the Federal Assembly, said that it is necessary to create conditions in rural areas that would motivate people to live and work there.

"People working in agriculture are essential to successful agribusiness development”, - Dmitry Patrushev noted.

He recalled that Russian Agricultural Bank was initially established to ensure stable growth of employment in the national agribusiness industry. Since its inception the Bank has provided more than RUB 3.2 trillion for the development of this sector of economy.

"I believe that the Bank will continue to make tangible contribution to the industry development and, as a result, will encourage people to live and work in rural areas”, - Dmitry Patrushev said.