More than 20 international investment institutions and sovereign wealth funds, including Russia’s RDIF, are discussing potential coordinated efforts to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.
In late April a video conferencegathered these organizations representing Brazil, China, France, India, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Oman, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, the UAE and the USA.
As stated by the RDIF, “participants discussed investments in existing and promising technologies as well as in companies that will help defeat the virus. They also touched on the topic of strategies and efforts undertaken at a national level. Countries whose representatives took part in the call, have already gained significant experience in combating coronavirus and sharing that knowledge is crucial in times of pandemic.”
As a result of the video conference, the partners “agreed to jointly identify and implement investment, production and other opportunities to quickly overcome the negative effects of the virus and resume economic activity. The parties also intend to intensify efforts to exchange international best practices and technologies to combat COVID-19.”
RDIF CEO Kirill Dmitriev said that “joint actions and promising projects that will help bring victory over it closer” will be “announced soon.”
On the domestic scene, in March, the RDIF became part of a government-backed ‘Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response Alliance,’ along with major players from the Russian tech and medical industries.
This Alliance aims to “ensure the rapid testing of people using the best available technology as well as the industrial security and continuous operation of the largest Russian enterprises.” Under plans, a Russian-Japanese express diagnostics system was to be rolled out this spring.
