MOSCOW, September 9 (RIA Novosti) - Some $1.5 billion was invested in central Russia’s Novgorod Region in 2004-2008, the region’s governor said on Wednesday.

“In 2004-2008, the region received $1.463 billion of foreign investment, including $371.9 million in 2008, up 25.6% against 2007,” Sergei Mitin said, adding that investment had come from over 30 countries, mostly Finland, Poland, Germany, Denmark and Britain.

Projects involving investors from the United States, Germany, Switzerland, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine are also being considered, he added.

The governor said 210 companies involving foreign capital were active in the region.