Russia is ready to consider as a pilot project the creation of a medical aid service in South Africa equipped with Russian Mi-8/Mi-17 helicopters, Natural Resources Minister Alexander Kozlov said on Thursday.

He was speaking at a meeting of the intergovernmental commission of Russia and South Africa, he co-chaired.

"Russian Helicopters [company] is interested in promoting its helicopters and their after-sales service. We are ready to propose as a pilot project to consider the creation of an ambulance service equipped with Mi-8/Mi-17 helicopters in South Africa," he said.