In The Current Year Portfolio Of Orders Of Rosoboronexport Increased By 1.5 Times

On Saturday at a press conference in Moscow Ilya Klebanov, Russian vice-premier and minister of industry, science and technologies stated that the portfolio of orders of "Rosoboronexport", the leading Russian exporter of Russian armaments, was increased in the current year by 1.5 times. According to him, it meant a significant increase of revenues from the sale of armaments. In addition to that, according to Klebanov, in the current year they would conclude several serious contracts, mainly in the area of aviation. According to the plan of Rosoboronexport for 2001 the revenue from sale of armaments might have amounted to USD 3.2 billion though already now experts stated that the figure would be significantly higher. Klebanov emphasized that the most popular product in the area of armaments was aviation. According to him, last events in Kosovo and Afghanistan proved that military superiority was achieved mainly by aviation. Klebanov stated that export of Navy armaments was in the second place and main forces of general purpose were occupying the third place. In the opinion of the vice-premier, in the current and next years in addition to traditional markets Russia intends to sell armaments in Latin America and countries of Africa. At the same time trade with countries of the African continent got its peculiarities. In particular, it comprised provision of credit against goods, long-term low interest credits and even "giving out certain amounts of equipment" as presents, as Klebanov put it.