Russia keen to tap African markets - minister

MOSCOW. March 5 (Interfax) - Russia is interested in entering African markets, as they are currently the most promising and fastest-growing, Russian Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov told reporters.

"It is crucial to have a presence in this market and to get in there now, because Africa will be one of the fastest-growing markets on the planet in the decades to come," he said. "Yes, it's very diverse, but we must nevertheless work with all of them. There's a big potential market for our products," he said.

Reshetnikov said areas for partnership include agriculture, energy resources and the use of Russian technology. "We must work with them, and this is our strategic vector," he said.

Regarding cooperation with the Central African Republic, Reshetnikov said the country had a favorable location: "It is, after all, one of the elements of a large market [of African countries], and ultimately the market will grow."