MOSCOW, February 27. /TASS/. The Kalashnikov Concern is holding negotiations on overseas supplies of Kometa hydrofoil ships used in high-speed passenger transportation along the Crimean coast and expects to clinch a contract before summer, Chief Executive Officer of the Russian technology company Vladimir Dmitriev told TASS in an interview on Wednesday.

"The Kometa also enjoys the demand outside Russia. We are now holding talks abroad. If we succeed, then I think we will sign the contract before summer. Customers have the demand for this product. We see the export potential," Dmitriev said.

The top manager did not detail the potential buying country.

There is an interest not merely in deliveries of ready ships but also in carrying the operator’s business in the territory of customers, the top manager said. "We were surprised that there is a range of countries interested in deliveries of the Kometa as a ready ship but there are two orders at the least and two interested parties say they need a turnkey solution. We will probably set up a joint venture with them and will deal with operations in their territory in particular," Dmitriev added.

Talks with Asian and Middle Eastern companies on supplies of Kometa hydrofoil vessels are held, Kalashnikov said earlier.

The first Kometa 120M hydrofoil is already in service in Crimea. Four more vessels are planned to be built for operations in the region.

Kometa hydrofoil vessels will sail to other cities of the Black Sea basin later on, Dmitriev noted. "First five Kometa ships will be in service in the Black Sea basin, most likely in the region of Crimea. Then we will go the Black Sea coast of Caucasus, to Sochi and adjacent cities," he added.