Zee Beam News

MOSCOW, January 24 (RIA Novosti) - Net inflow of private capital in Russia will exceed the projected level of $15 billion in 2007, a senior Central Bank official said Wednesday. CBR First Deputy Chairman Alexei Ulyukayev said net private capital inflow totaled $41.6 billion in 2006. "We may not reach $41.6 billion in 2007, but the level will be higher than the $15-bln figure established by the monetary policy guidelines," Ulyukayev said. The Central Bank official said the high capital inflow figure for 2006 was attributable to the liberalization of foreign exchange regulation in Russia. Ulyukayev also said the planned share issues by electricity monopoly Unified Energy System (UES), retail savings bank Sberbank, and foreign trade bank Vneshtorgbank could prove major targets for private capital investment in 2007.