The contract, signed by U.S. officials and Primorye First Vice Gov. Konstantin Tolstoshein on May 20, requires that the work be finished within 14 months. Russia plans to sell the scrap metal. Department of Defense funding will pay for all aspects of the operation, including worker salaries and submarine delivery to the plant. The Nakhodka Sewing Factory recently ceased production and will convert its facilities for use as an indoor market. Nakhodka authorities had tried earlier to build a market but fell short of funding.
Regional officials say converting the factory into a market is cheaper than building new premises.
In Artyom, located just north of Vladivostok, city leaders also opted recently to turn a sewing factory into a market. Many sewing businesses in the krai closed down in the early 90s when Chinese and Korean companies flooded Primorye with cheaper products. Trading street to open A Chinese company will officially unveil an indoor trading street in Nakhodka on June 3. The street, which is nearly a kilometer long and runs parallel to the city s main thoroughfare, will house hundreds of Chinese traders and small stores. The trading street is designed to resemble a section of the Great Wall of China.