April 2 (Interfax) - Russian-Italian trade grew by 8% in 2001, reaching $9.1 billion, the Russian Ministry for Economic Development announced ahead of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's official visit to Russia beginning on April 2. Italian exports to Russia amounted to $7.4 billion against $7.3 billion in 2000, while imports totaled $1.7 billion against $1.2 billion in 2000. Russia increased exports of oil, chemicals and non-ferrous metals to Italy. It also exports timber and timber products, as well as machines and equipment to that country. Italy mostly exports machines and equipment, ferrous metal products, food and consumer goods to Russia. Italy is Russia's second largest buyer of natural gas after Germany, and annually imports 22 billion cubic meters of gas worth $2.2 billion. The stability of supplies is guaranteed by long-term contracts intended for the period until the year 2010. A further increase in Russian gas exports to Italy may be achieved in the current energy dialogue between Russia and the European Union. The volume of accumulated Italian investment in the Russian economy totals $1.8 billion, including $200 million in direct investments. Italy mostly invests in the Russian food industry, the production of home appliances, leather finishing, the car industry, the energy sector and trade. The Blue Stream gas pipeline is the largest Russian-Italian project. The pipeline will transport Russian natural gas along the bed of the Black Sea to Turkey and Western Europe. Capital investment in the project is to total $2 billion. The first section of the gas pipeline has been built. By 2008, this gas pipeline will handle 16 billion cubic meters annually.