Thomson Financial, the data and services company owned by Canadian billionaire Kenneth Thomson, will sell its products in Russia via an alliance with Interfax.

Thomson Financial, a unit of Toronto-based Thomson Corp., will provide Russian companies and investors with its data and consulting services through an exclusive agreement with Interfax Business Service, a unit of the news provider, the companies said in a joint statement released by Interfax on Monday.

"Russian companies are equally interested in dealing with investors in Russia and abroad," said Interfax chairman Mikhail Komissar.

The agreement "will increase the profile of Russian business among both domestic and foreign investors," he said in the statement.

The agreement will provide Russian companies seeking foreign investment with data on potential investors and other services such as marketing and public relations, the statement said.