The Ministry of Economy announced the launching of a competition for trade representatives to 57 countries. Among the countries are Austria, Belgium, Canada, Norway, Poland, the Netherlands, the Czech republic, Switzerland, Sweden, and Japan. The candidates are required to be under the age of 50, to have a university degree in economics, law or engineering, to have at least three years of experience in the filed of foreign economic relations, to be proficient in the official language of the country they apply for, as well as communications skills. The term for submitting documents to the Ministry of Economy is August 27. At about 20 of the former representatives will keep their posts and will be reappointed as of September 1 because of their good job. Among them are the attaches in Turkey, Greece, Rumania, and the US. At present there are three trade attaches in Moscow but only the highest in rank will keep his post, officials from the ministry announced.