Russian authorities plan a major bid to woo Irish construction workers and firms to Moscow, starting with a major job fair later this year.

The job fair comes after news of a huge $3 trillion construction boom in Russia which is expected to offer a lifeline to tens of thousands of unemployed Irish construction workers, and once-thriving building firms that are struggling to survive.

With the winter Olympics and World Cup soccer finals in the next eight years, the pressure on Russia to rebuild and expand its infrastructure is enormous.

As a result, it is expected that Irish construction workers desperate for work could be heading to Russia in the next few years as the country plans a huge expansion of its capital city in particular.

Minister for Trade and Development Joe Costello recently visited Moscow, which has a population of 11.5 million, and came back with some encouraging news for Irish workers who have gone through a drought of work since the Irish economic crash.
 
"The whole city of Moscow is going to be rebuilt and regenerated to two-and-a-half times the size it is now. This is going to be the biggest project in the world for the next 10 to 20 years,” said Costello, according to the Irish Independent.
 
"The entire Irish construction industry would only be a little peanut in the whole program.
 
"There are trillions to be made from the forecast construction boom, due to the necessity of modernizing infrastructure.
 
"We need to get out there now, as Russia does not have any debt as such. They are in the black, they have to spend the money."
 
Costello went on to say that the oil- and gas-rich country would be sending a delegation to Ireland in the fall to look for skilled workers who can help rebuild the city.
 
"They will be bringing a roadshow to Ireland in the autumn looking for Irish expertise in design, planning, architecture and town planning,” he added.