Economy Ministry forecasts foreign trade turnover

According to the Russian Economy Ministry's report devoted to Russia'ssocial and economic development, Russia's foreign trade turnover will growby 4.2 percent to $161.9bn in 2002. The volume of trade with the CIScountries is expected to increase by 7.1 percent to $30.2bn in 2002. Thetrade turnover with other foreign countries is to gain 3.5 percent to$131.7bn.The volume of Russian exports is to advance by 2.3 percent to $103.9bn,including exports totaling $16.8bn to the CIS countries, which is an 11.3percent growth, and $87.1bn to other foreign countries, which is a 0.7percent gain. According to the Ministry's estimations, imports will add 7.8percent to $58bn, including $13.4bn from the CIS countries (+2.3 percent)and $44.6bn (+9.6 percent) from other foreign states.Russia's trade surplus is expected to amount to $45.9bn, including $3.4bnwith the CIS countries and $42.5bn with other foreign countries. .