Vladimir kolychev, Russia's deputy finance minister, said on Wednesday that Russia will reduce the share of the US dollar in the national wealth fund and is considering investing in other foreign currencies, including the renminbi.
He said the structural adjustment of the national wealth fund will take effect from next year. The fund is part of Russia's sovereign foreign exchange reserves.
"I can say for sure that the dollar's share will fall," kolychev told reporters. "Other currencies are being considered... Including the renminbi."
Since 2014, Russia has accelerated the so-called de dollarization process to reduce its dependence on the US dollar. That year, Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine, which led to Western sanctions.
Kolychev said the move was intended to guard against external risks to Russia's foreign exchange reserves, but did not give any information on the extent to which the US dollar's share of national wealth funds had been reduced.
"Geopolitical risk is one of the key factors in determining the structure of national wealth funds," he said.
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