UK eyes cooperation with Ekaterinburg

On Thursday, 24 January, Colin Roberts, Director of the Eastern Europe Department of the British Foreign Office, and James McGuire, HM Consul General in Ekaterinburg, met with Ekaterinburg Mayor Alexander Yakob.

“The occupancy rate is currently at 60%. Given our plans to hold a number of events in Ekaterinburg, this sector will keep developing,” Alexander Yakob said.

Colin Roberts noted the city’s high economic development level and promised to let the British business community know about the potential of the Urals capital city. “You enjoy a very good economic environment in your city, and we are a bit jealous of you,” Roberts said.

“The UK is very much interested in cooperating with Ekaterinburg and the Ural Region. We would like to be among the city’s international partners. I’m certain that there is a bright common future for us,” he added.

The guests from the UK were especially interested in the hotel business, one of the reasons being Ekaterinburg registering a bid to host the Expo 2020 world trade show. The winning host city will be announced in December 2013. The four other entrants are Dubai (the UAE), İzmir (Turkey), Ayutthaya (Thailand), and São Paulo (Brazil).

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