British Business Circles Show Interest In Civilian Products Of Russian Military-industrial Complex

According to the data provided by the Ministry for Economic Development and Trade, in the first half of 2001 the volume of mutual trade between Russia and Great Britain amounted to USD 2.5 billion. Russian exports in January-June 2001 contracted by 5 percent year on year, while imports grew 33 percent. The Economic Development Ministry notes that British share covers about 3.5 percent of overall volume of Russian foreign trade, whereas Russia's share in Great Britain's foreign trade turnover does not exceed 0.5 percent. Anti-dumping procedures applied to Russian suppliers hamper further growth in exports of Russian goods to the British market. Over the past two to three years British business circles showed interest in Russian hi-tech civilian developments of the military-industrial complex enterprises. This group of goods is non-traditional one in mutual trade, however, experts say that it has all the chances to become an article of Russian exports to Great Britain.