Peter Mandelson in Russia on £23m JCB mission

JCB has secured a £23m contract for the supply of British machinery to Russia for use on infrastructure projects as the country prepares for the Winter Olympics.

The deal with MOCT - one of Russia's largest engineering contractors - has been welcomed by business secretary Lord Mandelson, who is in Russia with a delegation of business leaders. It is one of many construction opportunities available to UK business on the back of the Sochi Winter Olympics.

As part of the deal hundreds of diggers and generators will be shipped for use on road, bridge and tunnel improvements at Sochi. The machinery will be used again at Vladivostok for the construction of a road bridge in advance of the 2012 Asia Pacific economic co-operation summit.

Lord Mandelson said: "We can move markets as well as earth if we keep the business relations right between Russia and the UK.

"Trade is growing at more than 25% a year, year on year."

Tim Burnhope, managing director of JCB said: "This substantial order is a further endorsement of JCB products and the service and support offered by our dealer in European Russia, Lonmadi.

"Lonmadi recently opened a new depot in Sochi to support their sales efforts in the region - we are delighted that the investment in premises and staff has paid off so quickly."