Russian citizens spent $29.1 billion on new cars in 2006, which exceeds the figures for a year earlier by 54.1%. Given the import of second-hand foreign cars, the aggregate capacity of the market reached $24 billion. A greater range of auto loan offers was one of the key factors responsible for such an impressive increase in car sales last year. Russian banks issued some $7.5 to $8 billion worth of loans in 2006, which comes to 40% of all new cars bought in the country, whereas the figure only amounted to $4 to $4.5 in 2005. Provided this trend is continued, every other car sold in Russia

‘Ural Airlines’ cheap tickets from Yekaterinburg to Tel Aviv and back (the price of a return ticket only comes to $319 plus the fuel and airport fees) will definitely enjoy great demand, and I’m positive our company is going to take advantage of this offer as well. Besides, this carrier provides nice quality transfers, which is why their offer is advantageous indeed,’ Anastasia Ermolaeva, Director of Pangaea Travel Agency, said to UrBC. Ural Airlines are offering 70% discounts on tickets from Yekaterinburg to Tel Aviv and back between February 19 and June 20, 2007. The company is the only

Galvanized and painted steel market of Ural Federal District came to 250,000 tons in 2006, with another 270,000 to 280,000 tons expected in 2007. These figures were presented at the conference devoted to galvanized and painted rolled metal that was held in Moscow. The Ural flat section processing market has been developing quite rapidly, with goods supplied mainly by the building industry which, in its turn, grows by 8% to 10% a year due to stable economic development, income growth, and business investments (all of which results in increased demand for real estate) and mortgage lending

A concert devoted to Defender of the Motherland Day was held in Tomsk on February 24, 2007. Tomsk-based subsidiary of URSA Bank invited the veterans of the Great Patriotic War, home front workers, senior citizens, and all those wishing to come to join in the celebration. The show included a performance by the children from the local hobby clubs as well as a few competitions prepared by the concert organizers. ‘My friends, who were invited by URSA Bank over the phone, took me along. It is very nice that the concert is propaganda-free, it is a true people’s performance,’ says Luydmila

Throughout the past year, all subsidiaries of Evrazruda (ore maker and part of Evraz Group) kept trying to reduce the environmentally hazardous effects of their activity. Abagurskaya processing and agglomeration plant based in Novokuznetsk appears to have contributed the most: its activities included overhauls of suction devices, which decreased the amount of agglomeration dust dumped in the air; then, they started recycling of slag at the boiler furnaces, which makes it possible to burn up to 1,000 tons of additional slag a year and thus saves fuel; finally, the plant started recycling its

‘The accounting examination by experts that is to show what has led to such a trouble with Noviy Grad (the local developer) is expected to have been completed by April 2007. This examination is being conducted at the order of Sverdlovsk Region public prosecution authorities,’ says Maxim Kasatkin, Director of Economic Offenses Department of Yekaterinburg Internal Affairs Administration. All this is part of the investigation related to the criminal suit of former CEO of Noviy Grad Yuri Repeta who is charged with fraud. In the meantime, HydroSpetsStroy Ltd. (Noviy Grad’s general contractor) is

RusRating rated 43 Russian banks, including three banks based in Sverdlovsk Region, on the basis of their reports and accounts. ‘The rating given to SKB-Bank is determined by its nice rate of development, strong support of the financially independent proprietor, and good growth potential,’ report RusRating analysts. They also believe their developmental forecast appears to be stable, reports SKB-Bank’s press officer. RusRating is an independent national rating agency that has been on the Russian market since 2001. It mainly deals in rating banks, leasing businesses, and bank bonds, and in

‘Ural Airlines make very attractive offers in terms of Israel-bound flights. This destination is now becoming more and more popular; it used to enjoy little demand because of the war, but the state of events is quite peaceful now and people aren’t afraid of going there. Trips to Israel are particularly interesting since they give one a chance to combine rest with high quality medical treatment. Moreover, in the springtime, the country is very popular with palmers of all sorts who want to be there at Easter,’ Olga Gutlyar, Director of Zima-Leto Travel Agency, said to UrBC. Ural Airlines are

‘According to the terms of the grant contest, the money received can be spent in three ways: on teaching methods development, on equipment and study materials, and on training and re-training the faculty and support staff. Last year’s winners, on average, spent 25%, 70%, and 5% on these, respectively. Ural State University is going to invest 87% out of the total of 510 million RUR in lab equipment and books,’ Dean of the Department of History Dmitriy Bugrov said to UrBC. ‘The university is going to spend money on the most promising fields of science and education vital to real economy and

Two new 210-ton pouring cranes were assembled at the arc-furnace plant of Metallurgical Industrial Complex of Novokuznetsk (part of Evraz Group). One of the cranes (the one used for the pouring bay and the ladle-furnace) has already been launched. The second crane (meant for two arc-furnaces) is going to start operating in April 2007; the company’s workers are getting the equipment ready at the moment, reports the spokesperson for Evraz. The new cranes are much more effective than the old ones because they have been fitted with the new variable frequency drives that enhance the smoothness and