MOSCOW, April 18. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin at a meeting with French business delegates on Thursday reviewed the opportunities participation in Russia’s national projects would open up and invited French companies to cooperate.

"Considerable opportunities are opening up in front of foreign investors in connection with the implementation of strategic national projects in Russia," he said. "I would like you to know, although you are surely aware of what this is all about and let me say once again that the point at issue is hundreds of billions of dollars of capital investment into crucial branches of our economy." Putin recalled that foreign firms that had preferred to localize production in Russia were now be able to compete with Russian ones on equitable terms and participate in government procurement contests.

He recalled that Russia was paying special attention to the introduction of digital technologies.

"In this connection I would point to the operation of the Franco-Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which participated just recently in holding the international forum Trianon Startup, where nearly 30 Russian innovative companies presented their projects," Putin said.

He recalled that French President Emmanuel Macron last year led a large delegation of French businesses at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

"Dear friends, we will be glad to see all of your and other French businesses in St. Petersburg on June 6-8 this year," Putin said.