Patrushev sees potential for Russia, Brazil to cooperate in shipbuilding

BRASILIA. Aug 4 (Interfax) - Russia has a great deal of experience in all aspects of developing modern shipbuilding and there is strong potential for cooperation with Brazil in this area, Kremlin aide and head of the Maritime Collegium Nikolai Patrushev said at a meeting with Brazil's acting development, industry, trade and services minister, Rodrigo Zerbone Loureiro.

"Russia has accumulated a fair amount of experience in all aspects of developing modern shipbuilding. There could be a whole range of points of contact for us here," Patrushev said.

Brazil is vigorously stimulating investment in the development of national shipbuilding infrastructure, as well as capacity to manufacture oil production and oilfield service equipment, he said.

"The development of the oil and gas sector, particularly on Brazil's shelf, requires expansion of the fleet, oil and gas platforms. Brazil and Russia have strong potential for cooperation on all these fronts," Patrushev said.

The most promising areas for bilateral cooperation in shipbuilding include construction of large capacity vessels for grain imports, development of shipbuilding and ship repair facilities for small vessels, setting up construction of a modern fishing fleet, and well as localizing construction of civilian vessels, Patrushev said.

These initiatives can be implemented through Russia's United Shipbuilding Corporation, he said.