ST. PETERSBURG, June 7 (RIA Novosti) - Over 40 foreign auto-component manufacturing plants are to be established in Russia, a government official said on Saturday.

"We have already signed 21 investment agreements with component makers," said Dmitry Levchenkov, director of the economics ministry investment policy department.

He said these agreements would make it possible eventually to halt the import of auto parts.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin earlier this week urged car makers to localize production and manufacture as many auto parts in Russia as possible.

Russia aims to manufacture at least 60% of all auto parts domestically by 2012.