The Minister for International and Foreign Economic Relations of Sverdlovsk Region Alexander Kharlov recently held negotiations with the head of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s Russian representation Artem Sitnikov. The meeting was made possible due to EBRD Business Group Director for Russia Alain Pilloux’s upcoming visit to Ural Federal District. Mr. Kharlov said Sverdlovsk Region was definitely interested in keeping on cooperating with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development; for instance, the bank could take part in a number of construction projects that the region is involved in because of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit in Yekaterinburg in 2009.