Leading British companies in construction, engineering and event management are to travel to Moscow and Sochi for a six-day visit starting next Monday.

 

JCB last October won a £23 million contract to provide diggers and and generators to prepare road, bridge and tunnel infrastructure at Sochi.

 

British-based international audit and consulting company Ernst & Young has also been chosen as consultant partner for the selection of the enterprise resource planning system.

 

Pringle said: "The UK and Russia are working hard to showcase business expertise and build business partnerships for each other's games.

 

"UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) is actively raising awareness of British expertise in Russia.

 

"Sport has become big business globally - nowhere more so than the UK.

 

"The British passion for sport, and the UK's hosting of various world sport championships has enabled the UK to develop outstanding capabilities in planning, development, construction, design and management of major sporting events.

 

The programme of the mission includes a conference on the Olympic partnership between Britain and Russia with keynote speeches from top Moscow and Sochi officials involved in the Olympic games, plus round table discussions with industry experts focusing on sharing British expertise to bring practical solutions.

Pringle said: "I am sure that the Olympic partnership between the UK and Russia will not only pay dividends for the host nations themselves, but enhance the Olympic experience for the world."