BRICS bank to start lending in local currency by April: Kamath

Ufa, Jul 10 : The New Development Bank (NDB), set up by five BRICS nations including India, will start lending in local currency by April next year and member countries will primarily be the focus of credit facility, its chief and eminent banker K V Kamath said here today.

He said a decision to open membership for other countries will be taken in the next few months by the bank's Board of Governors.

"I think we will start lending process sometimes early first quarter next year (April). The idea is that by April next year, we will create a state of projects from all the member countries (for lending)," Kamath told PTI in an interview here.

He said the NDB, with a capital of USD 100 billion, will look at various instruments of credit to the member countries -- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa -- which require huge resources for development.

"Basically, credit is what we are looking at. Various instruments of credit that we are looking at," said Kamath, who was here to attend the BRICS Summit in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi and leaders from other member countries participated.

"Idea is that we will lend for developmental assistance in member countries," said the former Independent Director of Infosys and former Chairman of ICICI Bank, who has been made the NDB President for five years.

BRICS countries had decided last year to establish the Bank, with India getting the right to nominate the first President.

Asked whether the NDB would consider lending to non-member countries, Kamath said, "We will primarily lend to member countries. In due course, we will look at opening membership, in the next few months."

Specifically asked whether NDB could consider helping Greece which is in financial crisis, Kamath said, "I have no mandate to help any non-member, Beyond BRICS, I have no mandate."

At the same time, he said, "We will talk to the Board of Governors to expand in due course." The Board meeting is likely to take place later this month in Shanghai, the headquarter of NDB.

Kamath was asked to comment on a view that the BRICS bank has been set up to undermine the Dollar as it will lend in local currencies.

"I will put it like this. In developing countries, particularly BRICS, there are pools of capital which can be tapped and lent.

Local currency financing is what we will look at in addition to hard currency finance. We will look at all pools of capital in addition to hard currency," he said.

He went on to add that local currency credit will protect the BRICS countries from currency fluctuations and volatility and "it is critical that we do it".

PTI