April 1, 2013. The region’s Ministry of International & Foreign Economic Relations’ Board held a meeting dedicated to the development of Sverdlovsk Region’s international and foreign economic relations in 2012 and to the goals set for 2013-2014, Sverdlovsk Region Government’s Press Service & Information Department reports.

Head of the Ministry of International & Foreign Economic Relations’ Foreign Economic Activity & Investment Department Andrei Sobolev said in the course of this meeting that setting up new diplomatic and trade representations of other countries in the region promotes investment, trade, cultural, and scientific and technological cooperation.

In 2012, the positions of honorary consuls of Nicaragua, Italy, and Turkey were instituted in Sverdlovsk Region. Then, Ukraine’s Consulate-General also started operating in Yekaterinburg.

This year, Israel is expected to launch its Consulate-General in Yekaterinburg.