Russia’s Alfa-Bank Set To Open Branches In Beijing & Shanghai
Russia’s largest private lender, Alfa-Bank is set to open offices in China, the bank stated on Monday (September 11). Alfa-Bank’s board of directors has announced plans to open two offices in Beijing and Shanghai and will shortly submit the required registration documents to the People’s Bank of China.
Headquartered in Moscow, Alfa-Bank operates in seven countries, providing financial services to 22 million active corporate customers and over 1 million active retail clients as at the end of 2021.
According to the announcement, Alfa-Bank plans to become the first private Russian bank to open fully-fledged branches in two key cities in China at once, as it views expansion in the Asian powerhouse as “strategically important.”
Since the beginning of the year, Alfa-Bank has emerged as the top lender in Chinese RMB Yuan on the Russian market, accounting for a third of all RMB Yuan loans in Russia.
Vladimir Voeykov, the head of Alfa-Bank’s large and medium-sized business department, said “This year we launched a service for importers and exporters working with China and simplified customs clearance. We also held a large-scale forum for car dealers with a focus on China and offered profitable options for purchasing yuan ‘for tomorrow’ and we did everything to make it comfortable for our clients to work with partners from China. The opening of our branches is a logical step forward in our strategy. We are confident that this will help Russian clients to do business with China even more efficiently.”
The move reflects growing economic ties between Russia and China. The process has accelerated in the face of growing tensions between Moscow and the West over the conflict in Ukraine and multiple waves of economic sanctions against Russia.
The restrictions prompted Russia to reorient itself away from Western markets toward the East. As of the end of 2022, according to data from Chinese customs, Russia had become the top European country in terms of exports to China, fourth in terms of imports, and second in trade turnover.
Dezan Shira & Associates can assist Russian companies with their trade and operational presence in China. The firm was established in 1992 and has thirteen China offices, providing market intelligence, legal establishment, tax planning and related trade and compliance issues. Please contact china@dezshira.com for assistance.
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During these uncertain times, we must stress that our firm does not approve of the Ukraine conflict. We do not entertain business with sanctioned Russian companies or individuals. However, we are well aware of the new emerging supply chains, can advise on strategic analysis and new logistics corridors, and may assist in non-sanctioned areas. We can help, for example, Russian companies develop operations throughout Asia, including banking advisory services, and trade compliance issues, and have done since 1992.
We also provide financial and sanctions compliance services to foreign companies wishing to access Russia. Additionally, we offer market research and advisory services to foreign exporters interested in accessing Russia as the economy looks to replace Western-sourced products. For assistance, please email russia@dezshira.com or visit www.dezshira.com
