AMMAN - The 9th annual Russian Industrial Exhibition started on Wednesday with the participation of nearly 25 companies.

Evgenia Karpova, from the organising company Zarubezh-Expo, said more than 60 businessmen representing various industries came from Russia to take part in the three-day event.

Fomin Leonid, chief executive officer of Remstrogput company, told The Jordan Times yesterday that by participating in the exhibition, the firm, which manufactures railway construction material, seeks to expand its business in the Middle East.

“We currently have an agent in Syria after the company implemented a $1.5 million-project there, and we look forward to implementing such projects in Jordan and other countries in the region,” he said.

Ibrahim Saleh, a businessman of Jordanian origin who is director general of Neftegas, said the company will be negotiating to bring technologies for refining harmful components from gases and oil products to the Kingdom.

In a speech at the inauguration ceremony, Russian Ambassador to the Kingdom Alexander Kalugin referred to talks that His Majesty King Abdullah held with Russian officials during a recent visit to Moscow and stressed that the two countries enjoy strong economic ties.

Yarub Qudah, chief executive officer of Jordan Enterprise Development Corporation (JEDCO), highlighted Jordan as the main business player and regional hub for Russian industries in the Middle East.

“Not only will Russia have access to the region through Jordan as a Middle East hub, but Russia will serve as a centre for Jordanian industries in the eastern Europe region as well,” he stated.

Noting that trade between Jordan and Russia reached $400 million in 2009 despite the impact of the global economic crisis, organisers expect the expo to increase the trade volume to $600 million by the end of 2010.

Nael Kabariti, chairman of the Jordan Chamber of Commerce, indicated that the government signed several cooperation agreements with Russia, and called on the private sector to carry out joint investment projects with Russian firms.

Participating companies represent industries in various fields including power, telecommunications, radio engineering, peaceful use of nuclear power, machine building, water, petroleum and transportation among others.