July 16, 2014. The industrial production index in Sverdlovsk Region in the first half of 2014 was 4.5% lower than a year earlier. In June, the figure was 1.3% lower than in June 2013, Sverdlovskstat reports. As for specific industries, the production index in the oil and gas extraction segment rose by 2.1% in January-June 2014 compared with January-June 2013; that in the processing industries segment dropped by 5.7%; that in the production and distribution of electric power, natural gas, and water declined by 4.5%. The industrial production index went up by 13.9% in the leather, leather

July 16, 2014. ChTZ-Uraltrac (a member enterprise of Uralvagonzavod Scientific & Production Corporation) became one of the stopping points en route of an expedition that began in Vladivostok on June 12. The primary aim of this motor rally is to increase awareness of the achievements and problems of this immense country from the Far East to the Crimea, the corporation's press service reports. 'Rally participants, including young United People's Front activists from Moscow, Pskov, and Vladivostok, were accompanied by the corporation's Chelyabinsk partners – heads of the

July 16, 2014. In order to establish and fortify its cooperation with the companies based in China, one of the world's largest economies, the management of Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel Works (MMK) decided to set up a company representation in Shanghai, MMK reports. The representation will be in charge of liaising with the company's partners and contractors in China, of finding new suppliers (including through MMK e-trading floor), and of monitoring the Chinese market in order to purchase machines, raw stuffs, and materials for the enterprise's needs. Former Commercial Director

July 16, 2014. AK35-9SV steel sheets made at Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel Works underwent all the commissioning tests and was recommended by the interdepartmental committee as the steel of choice for the Russian Navy ships, MMK reports. MMK experts and Prometey Central Scientific Research Construction Materials Institute developed a technology for making AK35-9SV steel sheets within a closed cycle. To make these sheets, the company uses slabs made at MMK oxygen converter shop; these slabs are then rolled with the helof of Mill 5000. The sheets are then treated in the furnaces at the

July 15, 2014. A new pavilion will be completed at Yekaterinburg EXPO Exhibition Center next year, in time for the Innoprom 2015 Exhibition. A new venue became necessary after the exhibition got a new partner: some 100 Chinese companies announced they were willing to display their developments at the fair, Governor of Sverdlovsk Region Evgeny Kuivashev said at a press conference in Yekaterinburg. 'There was a group of 150 Chinese delegates at this year's exhibition, most of them were actually business people,' Kuivashev said. According to the Governor, the idea of putting up a

July 15, 2014. According to preliminary estimates, the total worth of deals signed at the international industrial exhibition Innoprom 2014 came to 50bn RUR, Governor of Sverdlovsk Region Evgeny Kuivashev said at a press conference in Yekaterinburg. The Governor said that this figure was comparable with last year's one. 'This year, slightly over 50 contracts were captured, including 19 large-scale ones. According to the preliminary data we have, we are talking about 50bn RUR. It is possible, however, that the final figure will be either smaller or larger after all. We are interested

July 15, 2014. Yekaterinburg has grown into one of Russia's top cities in terms of high-rise construction over the last two decades: such was the conclusion made by participants of a discussion forum on high-rise construction in Russia as the driver of industrial growth outside capital cities; the forum took place within the framework of the 5th international exhibition Innoprom in Yekaterinburg. 'I think the fact that this topic is now under discussion in Yekaterinburg is no coincidence. Yekaterinburg is currently one of Russia's tallest cities. Moreover, it is one of the

July 15, 2014. Uralvagonzavod Scientific and Production Corporation presented a life-size sample of its upgraded T-72 tank and other military developments at MILEX 2014 Exhibition in Minsk. According to the corporation's press service, on the first day of the exhibition the Russian holding's stand was visited by Byelorussia's Prime Minister Mikhail Myasnikovitch. 'The official paid the greatest attention to a life-size sample of our upgraded T-72 tank. The corporation's special representative for military and technical cooperation Alexei Maslov told the Prime Minister

July 15, 2014. Pipe Metallurgical Company (TMK), one of the world's leading OCTG producers, and LUKoil signed a program on scientific and technical cooperation in 2014-2016, TMK's press service reports. The program's primary aim is to ensure production of import-replacing and new kinds of piping products with enhanced technical and economic features that will meet the oil and gas industry's needs. According to this program, LUKoil will provide organizational and advisory support for all the R&D projects and will single out the most important scientific and technical

July 14, 2014. The annual Cherepanovs Regional Social Fund Prize awarding ceremony took place on the second day of the Innoprom 2014 Exhibition. This year, seventeen nominees won the prestigious award. Four of them are actually employed with Uralvagonzavod Scientific & Production Corporation, the company's press service reports. The prize was given to the leading energy expert from the corporation's head plant Georgy Bedrik, director of Uralvagonzavod's subsidiary Volchansky Mechanical Plant Vladimir Brusov, deputy senior designer of UKBV Alexander Pranov, and head of UNTK

July 14, 2014. Russian Copper Company, one of Russia's top three copper manufacturers, began putting up its headquarters in Yekaterinburg. The world-renowned Foster+Partners was invited to create the architectural design, the company reports. The company presented the project at the industrial exhibition Innoprom. Quite remarkably, this is going to be Forster+Partners' very first project to be implemented in Russia. As for the post-Soviet territory, Forster+Partners, founded and chaired by Lord Forster, built a number of facilities in the Republic of Kazakhstan, for example, Khan

July 14, 2014. Private individuals – subscribers to telecommunication networks owed their providers 24.6bn RUR as of July 1, 2014, which was 21% more than a year earlier. This figure went up in Ural Federal District, too, and amounted to 2.1bn RUR (compared with 1.69bn RUR a year earlier), the National Collection Service reports. The increase in telecommunication debts is gradually going down: in 2012, the amount of debt rose by 24% on the previous year, in 2013 and 2014, the figure was 22% and 21%, respectively. This decline has to do with the disappearance of the low base effect (when

July 14, 2014. Director-General of ChTPZ Engineering Dmitri Podoryashchiy took part in the meeting of Coordination Council for Industry and Engineering & Industrial Design Council under the Russian Federation Industry & Trade Ministry, while ChTPZ Organizational Development Director Tatiana Kozhevnikova joined a round table discussion on professional training as exemplified by German companies' experience, ChTPZ Group's press service says. In his speech at the meeting, ChTPZ Engineering DG pointed to the barriers that halt the development of engineering in Russia and

July 14, 2014. Russia is launching a no-visa mode for sports players, umpires, coaches, and even supporters for the duration of the World Cup 2018, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in his interview to ITAR TASS News Agency. 'In some respects, Russia is planning to go further than the hosts of this year's Mundial,' Putin said. He pointed out that the special preferential terms visa regime was already adopted through a federal law for the foreigners who will help prepare for the football championship of 2018. 'Shortly before and during the event, not only the official

July 11, 2014. Seversky Pipe Plant (STZ, a member enterprise of Pipe Metallurgical Company/TMK) finished off its Mentor of the Year contest. According to the corporation's press service, 16 contestants from the plant's departments and divisions competed for the title. During the first stage which took off in May, the committee of jurors assessed the candidates' professional achievements over the last three years against the following criteria: presence on project teams; improvement proposals and activity; professional skills competitions; and professional development. The jury

July 11, 2014. Russian Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev took part in the launching ceremony of Sinara Power Station in Kamensk-Uralsky. According to Sinara Pipe Plant's (SinTZ) press service, the heat and power station was reconstructed within the framework of a program on the development of one-employer towns and on the creation of a pipe manufacturing cluster on the premises of SinTZ (a member enterprise of Pipe Metallurgical Company/TMK). The solemn launch of the station completed one of the core stages of a project on the development of Kamensk-Uralsky; for the first time ever, a

July 11, 2014. During the Innoprom 2014 Exhibition, ChTPZ Group and Pervouralsk Council signed an agreement on socioeconomic cooperation. The paper was signed by Head of Council Alexei Dronov and ChTPZ Group's Director-General Vitaly Sadykov, ChTPZ Group's press service says. Under this agreement, the plant and the town will work together on the all-round development of the area. For one, the Pervouralsk 300 Project will require special focus by both parties on the municipal infrastructure improvement. Pervouralsk New Pipe Plant (a member enterprise of ChTPZ Group) is ready to

July 11, 2014. On July 9, Russian Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev paid a visit to the united stand of Sinara Group and Pipe Metallurgical Company (TMK) at the international forum for industry and innovations Innoprom 2014. BOD Chairman of Sinara Group and TMK Dmitri Pumpyansky put the Prime Minister in the picture of all the technological novelties presented at the stand, the company reports. Representatives of partner companies, Prof. Dr. Member of the Managing Board of Siemens AG Siegfried Russwurm, and CAF Group's Regional Director Juan Garca. Dmitri Medvedev looked at TMK's

July 11, 2014. Russian Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev gave a very high estimate to the innovative low-floor tram 71-410 R1 presented by Uralvagonzavod Corporation at Innoprom 2014, the corporation's press service reports. What is more, Dmitri Medvedev was present at the signing of a municipal electric transport cooperation agreement by Sverdlovsk Region Government, Yekaterinburg Council, Uralvagonzavod Scientific & Production Corporation, and Gazprombank at the corporation's exhibition stand. Russian Industry & Trade Minister Denis Manturov looked at the corporation's

July 10, 2014. An agreement between Export Insurance Agency of Russia (EXIAR) and Renault Russia was signed at Innoprom 2014 today; Russian Industry & Trade Minister Denis Manturov was present at the ceremony, the Ministry's press service reports. This document insures the car maker against political and economic risks that might emerge when selling cars assembled at Renault sites in Russia that get delivered to Kazakhstan and Byelorussia's markets. 'The agreement between EXIAR and Renault Russia aims to promote automobiles assembled in Russia on the CIS market. EXIAR was