The Kyiv-based Antonov state-run enterprise plans to raise a loan of $500 million from foreign financial institutions in 2010 to develop production facilities, according to head of the Antonov state aviation building concern and president and chief designer of Antonov state-run enterprise, Dmytro Kyva.
"We need at least $500 million to expand production. We understand that no one is going to give such money from the budget, and this is right: we should work under market conditions, so we plan to take a loan," he said in an interview with the Uriadovy Kurier newspaper.
Kyva said that there are several banks that are ready to issue a credit to the company.
"The only thing that I can say that they are foreign financial organizations… We hope to raise loans at 7-8% per annum for three or four years," he said, adding that the raising of the funds would allow the company to build around 25 An-148, An-158 and An-32 aircraft over three years.
Kyiva said that in 2010 Antonov plans to build six aircraft; four An-148s and two An-32s.
In 2011 the company plans to build eight An-148s and three or four An-32s.
