Governor of Sverdlovsk Region Eduard Rossel commented on the recent visit of a group of Russian executives headed by Minister for Trade and Economic Development Hermann Gref to France. The Governor himself took part in MIPIM 2007 (Europe’s leading international investment exhibition) that was held in Cannes on March 13, 2007. According to the Governor’s press officer, Mr. Rossel had a chance to meet the management of Auchan, the retail supermarket chain, and to discuss the future development of the company in the Urals. The management was reported to be considering setting up four or five new supermarkets in the region. The head of the company’s supervisory board is expected to arrive in Yekaterinburg on March 21, 2007.