Jean-Pierre Raffarin: There is more to Russia than Moscow and Saint Petersburg

There is more to Russia than just Moscow and Saint Petersburg. This was announced by French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin during the presentation of the Urals Federal District, which started in France on October 27. As a result of the presentation France has confirmed its interest in Russia and especially the Urals Federal District.

As Rosbalt was informed by the press office of the Urals administration, Presidential Plenipotentiary to the Urals Federal District Peter Latyshev has met Chairman of the French Senate Christian Poncelet. They discussed the economic and political situation in Russia and Mr Poncelet offered to support and organize the visit of French industrialists and entrepreneurs to the Urals. This visit is scheduled to take place at the beginning of 2004.

Today local businessmen from the Urals Federal District met their French colleagues in Paris. They are discussing ways to collaborate in the spheres of high technology, machine building, aerospace and nuclear technology. This evening the Russian businessmen will visit the Renault plants.

There are currently only 12 enterprises in the Urals Federal District which have been invested in by French companies and 8 of these are in Yekaterinburg.