MOSCOW, October 17 (RIA Novosti) - A food trade exchange will begin operating in Russia as soon as 2008, the economics minister said Tuesday.
"I believe the operation [of a food trade exchange] is realistic as of 2008," Economic Development and Trade Minister German Gref said.
Gref said a market in derivative instruments also had to be developed, in addition to trade in commodities.
"Throughout next year, we'll be building up the volume of trade and developing derivative instruments," Gref said, adding that Russia could then begin selling foodstuffs with limited shelf-life from its strategic food stock to restrain the growth of prices for some food products.
