February 5-7, 2007: Leonidas Pantelides, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Cyprus in Russian Federation visited the Rostov Oblast. The aim of the visit was the acquaintance with the region and its economic and investment potential. In Rostov on Don, Ambassador Pantelides discussed the perspectives of beneficial cooperation between Cyprus and Don Land with Victor Deryabkin and Jivan Vartanyan, Vice-Governors of Rostov Oblast and Nikolay Prisyazhnyuk, President of the regional chamber of commerce and industry.
The external trade turnover of Rostov Oblast with Cyprus in 2006 reached $12 million 929 thousand, with exports volumes at US$12.7 million. The main products exported to Cyprus from Rostov Oblast were barney, wheat, wood materials, rolled ferrous/non ferrous metals (aluminum and copper). In the recent years, the economy of the Republic of Cyprus has developed the entrance tourism and banking sector, which make up 76.6% of its GDP. This experience would be interesting for Rostov Oblast, working on creation of new tourist and recreation areas. Ship-building and ship-repairing companies based in the region may be interested to learn the experience of their Cypriot counterparts.
Vice-Governor Victor Deryabkin transmitted Leonidas Pantelides an invitation open to all Cypriot business people to participate in the economic forum "Small business in the economy of Don region", which will be held in September 2007 in Rostov on Don.
February 7, 2007 the Leonidas Pantelides visited the city of Taganrog, where he had a meeting with Nikolay Fedyanin, Mayor of Taganrog, which was followed by a regular press conference at Mayor's Office. The Cypriot Ambassador visited headquarters of
Taganrog Seaport Administration with Konstantin Zashchitin, chief of the Administration of the seaport of Taganrog and directors of the Taganrog-based company Yugtranzitservis, the leading national exporter of grains. The city's tourist attractions - Peter the Great monument and Alferaki Palace - were honored by a memorable visit of the Ambassador.
