Vneshekonombank has started the negotiations with Sukhoi regarding financing of Northern Caucasus federal district’s fleet renewal project, Rosbalt reports. Director of VEB’s Pyatigorsk branch, Arsan Demelhanov, has reported this fact during a meeting held on Wednesday.

According to him, VEB’s branch has begun negotiations with Sukhoi holding company on Sukhoi Superjet 100 acquisition in accordance with district entities’ proposals.

It is referred to the possibility of financing the project via leasing company.

The first Superjet 100 has been presented on September 26th 2007 at Sukhoi’s site in Komsomolsk-on-Amur and it has performed its maiden flight on May 19th 2008.

At present the firm order backlog for Superjet 100 is 170 jets. It is planned to manufacture 14 jets this year, 25 jets in 2012, and increase the output to 60-70 jets in future.

The first Sukhoi Superjet 100, named after Yuri Gagarin, has been solemnly delivered to Armavia on April 19th. It has performed its first passenger flight on April 20th to Moscow.

Armavia and Aeroflot are Sukhoi Superjet 100’s launch customers.