The Leipzig Construction Trade Fair: Russian companies and communes seek cooperation with Western Europe
Leipzig (ots)
Renovation solutions and investors needed
In Russia, interest in cooperation with West-European construction companies is growing. The need for know-how transfer is particularly great. This was the message from Leipzig Trade Fair participants returning from a presentation trip in Russia in preparation for BauFach 2001.
The focus will be on Russia at this year's Leipzig Construction Trade Fair to be held from 24 to 28 October. Companies and communes from the regions of Samara/Volga, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Saratov and Karelia, besides those from Moscow and St Petersburg, will be introducing themselves in Leipzig. Russia's intensified construction and renovation activities promise attractive business prospects for foreign investors.
Alexander A. Latkin, deputy governor of the Samara region, is seeking to encourage imports of Russian products. 'With natural stone, aluminium and wood products, our region offers a competitive product range. Therefore, we are interested, above all, in the certification of our products for Western Europe.'
There is bustling construction activity in connection with the 1,000-year festival in Kazan. 'However, we lack suitable materials for road construction', admitted Piotr S. Rybalkin, departmental manager of the local authorities. Moreover, efforts are focused on finding solutions for cost-effective housing construction. Each year, 4,000 urban flats are required for the re-housing of families alone. Further key urban-construction areas include the renovation of old buildings, monument protection and the refurbishment of hotels. 'At BauFach 2001, we hope to meet interested companies and find solutions', stated Rybalkin. Boris Pavlov, head of the economics department, pointed out they had interesting technology that could attract joint ventures. According to Pavlov, the city is seeking investors or contractors for many projects.
The authorities in St Petersburg are also looking for construction contractors and property companies. According to Alexander V. Lobanov from the St Petersburg Construction Committee, property constructors are offered long-term and favourable credit terms that normally would not be available. Furthermore, the authorities in St Petersburg are keen to gain experience in the modernization of prefabricated constructions.
'There's a construction boom in certain parts of Russia, like the one at the beginning of the 1990s in Moscow', according to Werner M. Dornscheidt, managing director of the Leipzig Trade Fair. 'This is the chance for Western Europe to establish cooperation links.'
BauFach 2001 makes it easier for West-European companies to form contacts by offering, inter alia, an interpreting service, a contact stock exchange, an international meeting of companies as well as workshops to deal with legal and tax-related questions. In addition, Russia is providing information on import regulations, licensing for the Russian market as well as employment opportunities in Russia.
Overall, the Leipzig Trade Fair is expecting 50 exhibitors from Russia.
ots Originaltextservice: Leipziger Messe GmbH Internet: www.newsaktuell.ch
Contact:
Ulrich Briese
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Fax: +49 (0)341 678 81 82
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