(AGI) Moscow, Sept 15 - In spite of sanctions, the atmosphereamong manufacturers of Italian food who export to Russia, isone of confidence and moderate optimism, with few declining toattend the World Food Fair currently being hosted at Moscow'sExpocentre. The Italian government's trade agency, ITA, haseven organised a 130 square metre national pavilion featuringeight companies from Campania, Calabria, Puglia and Sicily. "Wewish to give Italian companies a sign of continuity," ITA'sdirector in Moscow, Maurizio Forte, told AGI on Monday. "Asidefrom the areas under sanction (meat, fish, vegetables and milkproducts), the others are doing well," said Forte. 2013ended with encouraging signs for agricultural exports toRussia, with Italy selling products worth 1.072 million euros,an increase of 10 percent over 2012. The current situation,with sanctions in place, could make itself felt this year withestimates of 100 million euros in losses and a further 250million euros next year, assuming sanctions are still in place. The presence of Italian companies, specialising in winesand coffee, present for the first time in Russia was a "sign ofoptimism", said Italy's commercial attache, Niccolo Fontana,who was also at the Italian pavilion. "If the solution resolvesitself, we could decide to invest even more in this fair nextyear," he said. The embargo did not stop another ITAinitiative in Moscow; the three-week promotion of Italianproducts in 30 Sedmoi Kontinent supermarkets, which begins inOctober. "Visibility will be given to 200 products, withpromotions and tasting, from almost 30 new suppliers," saidForte, who ruled out an escalation of restrictions on food byMoscow, which has warned of new sanctions on automobiles andtextiles. (AGI). .