BISHKEK, March 28. /TASS/. Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) has signed a cooperation agreement with the Russian-Kyrgyz Development Fund, under which the partners plan to seek attractive investment projects to help strengthen bilateral economic ties and increase the volume of mutual investments between the two countries.

Presidents of Russia and Kyrgyzstan, Vladimir Putin and Sooronbay Jeenbekov, attended the signing ceremony on Thursday.

"Much is being done to boost bilateral investments through the Russian Direct Investment Fund," Putin told reporters following the talks. "The agreement signed by the Fund with Kyrgyz partners is aimed at boosting mutual investments, which currently are worth more than $350 mln. Russia’s accumulated investments in Kyrgyzstan exceed $200 mln, while Kyrgyzstan’s (investments) in Russia equal $150 mln," he said. President noted that "Russian enterprises are represented in almost all key sectors of the Kyrgyz economy, such as energy, mining industry, engineering, agriculture, transport," adding that "almost 700 joint Russian-Kyrgyz enterprises operate in the republic."

The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) also signed a cooperation agreement with the Investment promotion and protection agency of the Kyrgyz Republic as part of the Russian delegation’s visit to Bishkek.

"Joint investments by Russia and Kyrgyzstan can become a driver for the growth of economic cooperation between our countries. I am confident that the cooperation between RDIF and our Kyrgyz partners will help attract direct investment into national economies, develop PPP (public-private partnership - TASS) mechanisms, create free economic zones and stimulate trade and economic relations between Russia and Kyrgyzstan as a whole," RDIF CEO Kirill Dmitriev told reporters.

Chairman of the Board of the Russian-Kyrgyz Development Fund (RKDF) Erkin Asrandiev expects the partnership to give impetus to the further development of economic cooperation between the countries. "Within the framework of RKDF’s activity, it is planned to present individual projects and conclude several cooperation agreements aimed at their joint implementation. These projects have good potential, securing and understanding them at such a high level will help the early resolution of any issues related to their implementation and ensure the earliest possible completion," he said.