French diplomats take on Murmansk
The French General Consul in Sankt Petersburg is in Murmansk to get a briefing on the development of the Shtokman field. He will soon be followed by the French ambassador to the country.
-The development of the Shtokman field and the huge infrastructure projects in the region open up new perspectives for France, Mr. Orbi said during the visit, the Murmansk regional administration reports in a press release.
French General Consul Michel Obri visits Murmansk together with the General Consul of the Netherlands, Mr. V.M. Hoeks. The two diplomats yesterday got a presentation of the region by Head of the Murmansk Department of Economic Development, Mr. Valerii Talichkin.
The visit of Mr. Orbi will be followed by an official visit of the French Ambassador to Russia Mr Stanislas de Labule in late May together with a major business delegation.
As a run-up to the visit, an information seminar about Murmansk has already been organised in Paris by Ubifrance, the French Agency for international business development
It has also become a subject for speculations whether France will open up a new consular unit in Murmansk in connection with the Shtokman field.
French oil company Total has a 25 percent stake in the Shtokman Development Company, the company which is to develop the project.
