The head of German retail leader Metro met with First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov to discuss the company's cooperation with Russian food producers and the possibility of expansion in the far eastern Primorye region, a statement on the government website said.
Shuvalov and Metro CEO Olaf Koch also discussed profit and payroll taxes at the Monday meeting.
Shuvalov endorsed Metro Cash & Carry's business model in Russia, which focuses on encouraging investment in local companies, and praised Metro Group for offering consumer-friendly prices and purchasing 90 percent of its product line from Russian suppliers.
Since 2001, Metro Group has built 69 shopping centers in Russia.
The company has established a total of 68 Metro Cash & Carry stores in addition to 18 Real Hypermarkets, 30 Media Markt electronics stores and 2 Saturn electronics stores, according to the company's website.
Metro Group is one of the world's largest retailers, with more than 2,200 outlets in 32 countries across Europe, Africa, and Asia.
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