No foreigners in alcohol and medicines trading in Russia in 2007

Foreigners, including CIS citizens, will be banned from selling alcohol or medicines under a new  Russian government initiative startin January 1 next year in a move to support  domestic business.

No new licenses will be issued from January 2007, and the Russian government expects the share of foreign involvement to be zero by 2008.

The Russian government has also fixed a quota of just over 300 thousand labour migrants for 2007.

The government resolution is aimed at supporting Russian producers and fighting illegal immigration.