Russia's Deputy Economy Minister said on Friday that Russia plans to direct 400 billion roubles ($6.8 billion) from its National Wealth Fund into investment projects this year.

"These are long-term investment funds that we are going to direct. It is our contribution to the investment cycle," Ilya Torosov, Russia's first deputy economy minister told a banking forum in Kazan on Friday. ($1 - 58.98 roubles) (Reporting by Reuters)