St. Petersburg, June 3, 2021 — Gazprombank, the Government of Kaliningrad Region and Sodrugestvo Group of Companies concluded a cooperation agreement within the framework of the implementation of sustainable development projects in the territory of Kaliningrad Region. The trilateral document was signed by Alexey Belous, Deputy Chairman of Gazprombank’s Management Board, Anton Alikhanov, Governor of Kaliningrad Region, and Alexander Shenderyuk-Zhidkov, Director of Sodrugestvo Management Company Ltd.
The projects will be aimed at environmental protection, reducing carbon footprint, introducing biotechnologies into the manufacturing process, advancing oily raw-material processing, and increasing the added value of Sodrugestvo Group products.
“Gazprombank has worked with Sodrugestvo Group for more than a decade, and over this time, we’ve managed to implement a number of joint projects with a total budget of roughly RUB 90 bln. The implementation of ESG initiatives is poised to emerge as a new stage of long-term and efficient cooperation. It will also ensure the region’s social and economic advancement,” commented Alexey Belous, Deputy Chairman of Gazprombank’s Management Board.
“It’s a very timely decision that will help to ensure the stable development of one of the region’s largest enterprises and the country’s agro-industrial complex as a whole — as well as to reinforce Sodrugestvo’s export positions. Moreover, we view this partnership as part of the low-carbon development of the Russian economy,” shared Anton Alikhanov, Governor of Kaliningrad Region.
“With Gazprombank’s financial support, in 2021, the company launched Europe’s largest and most advanced soy-protein concentrate manufacturing facility (Svetly, Kaliningrad Region). The product’s carbon footprint has already been measured at the plant. We intend to continue seamless operation aimed at the development of advanced processing and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, which will lead to a reduction in core-operation waste and have a positive effect on the environment,” said Alexander Shenderyuk-Zhidkov, Director of Sodrugestvo Management Company Ltd..
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Background:
Gazprombank ranks among the TOP 3 leaders of the Russian banking sector by main volume indicators (according to INTERFAX-100. Banks of Russia, www.finmarket.ru/database/rankings/), as well as among the largest financial institutions in Central and Eastern Europe.
Gazprombank provides a wide range of services to corporate and private clients. The bank provides services to key sectors of the Russian economy — gas, oil, chemical and petrochemical, metallurgy, electric power, mechanical engineering, transport, construction, communications, the agro-industrial complex, trade and other industries. The Bank boasts many years of unique experience in the arrangement of project financing and placement of debt instruments on the Russian and international capital markets; the provision of financial and advisory services involving project, corporate and debt financing, as well as experience in the field of corporate investment management both in Russia and abroad.
Gazprombank’s retail business is focused on providing modern high-tech products and services. As of the beginning of 2021, the Bank was providing services to roughly 5 mln individual customers. The Bank’s retail loan portfolio as of year-end 2020 stood at more than RUB 660 bln, with a retail deposit portfolio in excess of RUB 770 bln.
Sodrugestvo Group of Companies was established in 1994. It’s an international vertically-integrated agro-industrial group with an annual turnover of more than $4 bln. It produces soy and rape oils, rape and soy oil meal, lecithin and soy protein concentrate. It’s the proprietor of Europe’s largest manufacturing complex, located in Kaliningrad, as well as crushing capacities in Belarus, Brazil and Turkey. The Group has its own logistics infrastructure in Russia, Belarus and Brazil, port infrastructure in Russia and Paraguay, and a fleet of special-purpose railway carriages.