On February 6-8, a group of German and Russian financial specialists and entrepreneurs made a business-tour around Rostov region and Krasnodar Territory.

The following persons participated in the tour: Vasily V. Vysokov – Chairman of the Board of Directors of Center-invest Bank, professor, doctor in economics; doctor Ernst Welteke – independent director of OJSC CB Center-invest Bank, ex-president of Deutsche Bundesbank; Mr. Heiner Hartmann – managing director of Hartmann Consult GmbH, Banque Société Generale; Mr. Harald Biler – a partner, Russian International Consulting, former member of Managing Board of Dresdner Bank; Mr. Carl-Heinz Pfaff – general director, CHP Forestproducts, Mr. Gordeev – director of “Horizont” company.

The purpose of the trip is to get acquainted with infrastructure of hotel and resort business of the South of Russia and search for international investments projects.

During the trip delegation visited Rostov-on-Don, Krasnodar, Novorossiysk and Anapa cities, where meetings with local administration took place. Negotiations allowed determining mutual plans on development of hotel business. Besides a possibility of financing of large hotels construction, Center-invest Bank is planning to expand lending for technical reequipment of small hotels at the Black Sea coast to increase comfort of recreation and environment protection.

Project of expanding of lending to recreational business became possible due to active development of Center-invest Bank branch network at Black Sea coast.

In 2006 the Bank opened offices in Sochi and Novorossiysk cities. In 2007 there will be opened offices in Adler, Anapa, Gelendgik and Novorossiysk cities and an additional office in Sochi city.

Over 20 thousand small enterprises and individual entrepreneurs are customers of Center-invest Bank. In 2006 the Bank granted loans to small business to the amount of RUR 12.5 billion.