"We decided to set up a joint venture to try and fight for the European parcel delivery market," Nikiforov said after holding talks with Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek.

The Russian post has its own aircraft and Maribor would be the location for a logistics centre that would serve Slovenia and neighbouring markets, he said.

Počivalšek said the talks started a month ago, when he met Nikiforov at the St. Petersburg Forum.

"This project is about keeping up with the rapid pace of digital retail. I am confident we will make it possible for our post to develop a digital retail centre transferring goods into the EU," he said.

Počivalšek said the postal operator Pošta Slovenije had the know-how, experience and technical aptitude to implement the project.

Nikiforov also met Minister for Slovenians Abroad Gorazd Žmavc and Maribor Mayor Andrej Fištravec to discuss the ongoing plans for a Russian WWII memorial centre and museum in Maribor, in a building that used to be a Nazi camp for Russian prisoners of war.

The organising committee in charge of the project held its first meeting on the occasion and Nikiforov said all formalities necessary to launch the project had been agreed.

Fištravec said the city would purchase the building next month and then transfer it to a special fund to be established by Russia which will then handle all subsequent steps.

The city has set aside EUR 300,000 for the purchase this year and plans to spend as much next year on landscaping. The museum is valued at EUR 2.5m, which Russia is expected to provide.