‘Sverdlovsk Region’s foreign trade turnover amounted to $4.5bn in the first half of the year, which was 37% less than a year earlier. The drop can be largely explained by the plummeting metal prices,’ the region’s Minister for International and Foreign Economic Relations Alexander Kharlov announced at a meeting with the Minister Counsellor (Economic and Trade & Investment) at the UK Embassy in Moscow Caroline Wilson.

‘Nevertheless, the share of exported machine-building produce was actually on the increase. The ministry is now looking for the potential markets and investigating the global trends. We are also planning to get the local businesses to participate in the exhibitions abroad. For one, we are getting ready for the upcoming events in Turkmenistan and Tajikistan,’ the Minister said.