ST.PETERSBURG, April 6 (AVN) - St. Petersburg Governor Vladimir Yakovlev and Director General of the Russian Shipbuilding Agency Vladimir Pospelov signed an agreement on Friday on holding the first international naval show here in 2003.
The signing ceremony was attended by Director General of the Rosoboronexport state-owned arms trader Andrei Belyaninov, Navy Commander Vladimir Kuroyedov, chiefs of St. Petersburg shipbuilding companies, specialised R&D institutes and design bureaux.
The show that is timed to the 300th birthday of St. Petersburg is expected to involve over 140 Russian and about 40 foreign arms producers. The event will feature an international arms exhibition, aviation show, research and practical conferences and specialists' seminars. They will take place on the shores and waters of the Neva River and Bay of Finland, Lenexpo exhibition ground, military units, R&D and projecting organisations of St. Petersburg and Kronshtadt.
The Russian leadership supported organisation of the show. Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov appointed his deputy, Ilya Klebanov, chairman of the show's organising committee. He also instructed the committee on international military-technical co-operation to inform interested foreign partners on the show.
Rosoboronexport was ordered to work for attraction of potential buyers of military vessels, and assist participants of the show in setting up benches and demonstrating samples of armament and military equipment.