Arkady Dvorkovich: A plenary meeting with the Prime Minister has taken place, which lasted some two hours. We heard some interesting ideas in all basic areas of the activity of the Government. Earlier the Prime Minister had designated these as basic areas. I think that we understand how these areas are due to develop based on the work that has been carried out and the ideas that we heard at this forum.  

Roundtables are currently being held. Dmitry Medvedev has attended two of them – a roundtable on Siberian development and a Leaders’ Club meeting, which discussed the implementation of the National Business Initiative and its roadmaps. Other roundtables will discuss green growth, transport infrastructure, energy, the development of agglomerations and some other issues. The forum is really gaining an international aspect: it is attended by representatives of international organisations, including OECD, BRICS and some other countries and international institutions. 

From my perspective, in the coming hours and tomorrow, the forum is due to finalise the proposals – the ideas and initiatives – and transform these ideas and initiatives into specific solutions to be submitted to the Government. I will task the roundtable moderators with this mission – at the end of the forum, within the framework of the last plenary meeting, they should be able to formulate a unique set of proposals, a unique set of ideas. In my view, the organisation of the forum is brilliant: the halls are very convenient, the infrastructure is very convenient, but sometimes even this infrastructure cannot provide all participants of the forum with all necessary things, because there are too many participants. And yet this is a very good experience; and the forum has a face, a tradition, an open format, an interactive format; and we will support this tradition.

Question: What is the difference between the 10^th Krasnoyarsk Forum and the previous forums, in your view?

Arkady Dvorkovich: The 10^th Krasnoyarsk Forum represents the sum of the experience of the previous forums in terms of the discussion format. This forum has included the best experience – I think that this forum has found its niche. This niche is the discussion of the practical implementation of the existing plans and ideas. Historically, we have discussed concepts, programmes, strategies and various issues – but in the last two or three years we have started to discuss more and more not what to do but how to do it. And it is precisely this subject that will be fundamental at future forums – in this way the forum will differ from other forums, in this way it will be special.

Question: Could you comment on today’s directive on selling Irkutskenergo to Rosneftegaz? What will happen to the assets?

Arkady Dvorkovich: The directive was issued on Tuesday, February 12. It will be followed by corporate procedures by the seller and buyer concerned with implementing this directive. Usually it takes several weeks to conduct all these corporate procedures. Since neither the seller nor the buyer have doubts about the deal, everything will run smoothly and the deal will be implemented. The key issue is the expected evaluation of the asset – they will either use the existing evaluation or it will have to be updated. Most probably it will need to be updated, because the discussion process has been long. After this, all the necessary corporate procedures will be concluded.

Question: And how will RusHydro's recapitalisation be implemented in the future?

Arkady Dvorkovich: No decisions have been taken as yet. The President has verbally instructed me to gather all interested parties of the process and discuss this issue on the basis of the ideas mentioned in my report a while ago.

Question: How long will it take to update the evaluation?

Arkady Dvorkovich: Generally, updating an evaluation takes between one and two months, if it is not a new evaluation, but updating an evaluation.

Question: Three months on average?

Arkady Dvorkovich: Yes, about three months.

Question: Does this include closing the deal?

Arkady Dvorkovich: I believe so, yes. In the first half-year, the deal can be closed given a normal process.

Question: Will RusHydro take control?

Arkady Dvorkovich: All RusHydro issues, future asset consolidation or non-consolidation will be discussed at a separate meeting that I will hold in the short term with the participation of all interested parties – as the President has instructed me.

Question: Can I ask you about Rosneftegaz again…

Arkady Dvorkovich: It concerns the same subject.

Remark: Thank you.

Question: The President has instructed the Government to work on the issue of liberalising the access of private companies to liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports. Will you elaborate on this issue?

Arkady Dvorkovich: He meant the shelf on Yamal and (I forgot the name of the site) in another area, it just slips my memory. I think that the consolidated position can be submitted within four or six weeks, taking into account the objective that the President has set – to prevent competition on the same markets between LNG and traditional gas sold by Gazprom. I think it is possible to continue discussing this issue and submit proposals within this period. There are options, and it is necessary to carry out an additional analysis of these markets and possibly consult with potential foreign buyers and then make a decision.

Thank you.