20 September 2008, 17:31
Sochi Investment Forum: 114 agreements concluded
At the Investment Forum "Sochi-2008", which is taking place on September 18-21, Russian regions have already concluded 114 agreements and memorandums to the sum of 14.4 billion euros. The event is actively attended by the Republics, Territories and Regions of the South Federal District (SFD) of Russia. This year, the total exhibition area makes over 30,000 square meters.
"It is unprecedented, since for two days the regions have concluded this plenty of investment agreements," said Dmitri Kozak, Russian Minister for Regional Development, in a press conference.
"This Forum in Sochi is the largest by the number of participants, quality of servicing them and organization of the work," Mr Kozak has emphasized. "In general, the record number of Russian subjects - 58 - take part in the Forum." He has reminded that the first Forum had registered only about 200 participants, and only one subject - the Krasnodar Territory - took part in it, the ITAR-TASS reports.
According to Elvira Nabiullina, Minister for Economy and Development of the Russian Federation, this year the Forum was attended by more than 8300 participants, including four prime ministers (of Russia, France, Belgium and Bulgaria). Ms Nabiullina has noted that huge delegations arrived this time from Italy, Germany and Austria, the "Interfax" reports.