TOKYO, JAPAN — Representatives of FESCO, Marubeni Corporation and United Grain Company on March 19 signed a memorandum of cooperation within the framework of increasing the volume of grain exports from far eastern Russian ports as part of the Russian-Japanese investment forum.

The memorandum was signed by Arkady Korosteljov, vice-president for trading, FESCO, Daytsuke Okada, managing director and board member, Marubeni Corp. and Aram Gukasyan, acting director general, United Grain Company.

The first phase of the project is exported to include 100,000 tonnes of grain exports. Volumes of grain exports may increase to 5 million tonnes. Grain supplies will be administered to Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan and other countries in Southeast Asia.

Construction of a grain terminal is planned in the fast eastern port of Zarubino. 

FESCO is a privately-owned transportation and logistics company in Russia with operations in ports, rail, integrated logistics and shipping business. The majority of FESCO's operations are located in the Russian far east. FESCO controls the commercial port of Vladivostok, which has throughput capacity of 3.9 million tonnes of general cargo and oil products, 150,000 vehicles and ver 600,000 TEUs in containers. 

Marubeni Corporation is one of the largest trading companies in Japan. Its operations include import, export and offshore trade, project management, and the marketing of finished products, as well as business investment across a range of sectors including manufacturing.

United Grain Company is a Russian state agent that operates and manages 12 grain elevators with a total capacity of 1.8 million tonnes and 14 processing plants with a capacity of 1.2 million tonnes in 18 constituent unities in Russia.