Novgorod Governor Tells EU Ambassadors about Regional Economic Situation - 27 September, 2002

Novgorod Governor Mikhail Prusak yesterday held talks with the ambassadors of eleven EU states on prospects for economic cooperation. The ambassadors are on a two-day fact-finding visit to the Novgorod Region. According to the regional administration's press office, Prusak told the guests about the economic situation in the region and about economic projects that have been carried out.

According to Prusak, Novgorod companies with some kind of foreign involvement play a highly important role in the region's economy. Their share of total industrial production is 62.4 %, 83% of exports and 31% of imports. The leading countries in investment in the development of industrial enterprises in the Novgorod Region are all members of the EU: Great Britain, Denmark, Germany and Finland.

The press office revealed that the programme for the delegation's visit includes a meeting with representatives of the regional assembly and Novgorod's city administration, a visit to companies working with the foreign investors Dirol and Cadbury, and also an extensive programme of excursions.

The delegation is made up of thirteen diplomats, including Danish Ambasador Lars Vissing, Spanish Ambassador Jose Maria Robles Fraga, Greek Ambassador Dimitrios Paraskevopoulos, Belgian Ambassador Andre Mernier, Italian Ambassador Gianfranco Bonnetti, the deputy head of the EU delegation in Moscow, Vincent Piket, Laura Kakko, an advisor to the EU delegation in Moscow, and others.