Founded: 1934

Governor: Eduard Ergartovich Rossel (re-elected to a third term September 21, 2003)

Federation Council Representatives: Valery Georgievich Trushnikov (executive, term expires September 2007); Andrei Konstantinovich Shmelev (legislative, term expires March 2008)

Duma deputies: Anton Alekseyevich Bakov (Serovsky district)(Independent); Igor Vyacheslavovich Barinov (Artemovsky district)(United Russia); Georgy Karpeevich Leontyev (Kamensk-Uralsky district)(United Russia); Zelimkhan Alikoyevich Mutsoyev (Pervouralsky district)(United Russia); Yevgeny Vadimovich Roizman (Ordzhonikidzevsky district)(independent); Valery Afonasyevich Yasev (Nizhnetagilsky district)(United Russia); Yevgeny Gennadyevich Zyablitsev (Verkh-Isetsky district)(Rodina)

Population: 4,489,800 (2002 census)

Capital: Yekaterinburg (population 1,293,000), 1,667 km from Moscow

Other major cities: Nizhny Tagil (population 390,600), Kamensk-Uralsky (186,300), Pervouralsk (132,800)

Federal district: Urals

Economic region: Urals

Time zone: Moscow +2, GMT +5, EST +10

Geography: Most of Sverdlovsk region is located on the Western Siberian Plain. The highest mountains in the area are part of the North Urals. Principal rivers include the Tavda, the Tura, the Chusovaya and the Ufa.  The Sverdlovsk Oblast borders on the republics of Komi Republic, Khanti-Mansiisk, and Bashkortostan.

Urban population: 88%,  Rural population: 12%

Ethnic make-up: more than 148 ethnic groups, including Russians(89%), Tatars (3.75%), Ukrainians (1.2%) and Bashkirs (0.8%).

Economy: Sverdlovsk is one of Russia's leading financial centers. Thirty-one independent commercial banks and 20 branches of intercity banks currently operate in Ektaterinburg, as well as the Ural Regional Currency Exchange.  The predominant regional industries are engineering and metalworking, closely followed by timber and mining.

International rating agency Moody’s Investors Service has assigned to the Ural Bank for Reconstruction and Development (UBRD) long- and short-term national and foreign deposit ratings at B3 and NP respectively and the financial stability rating (FSR) at E+. The outlook for the long-term deposit rating and the FSR is stable. Moody’s Interfax Rating Agency has assigned to the bank a national long-term credit rating at Baa2.ru. B3/NP/E+ ratings on a global scale reflect the globally comparable default probability of the UBRD and the extent of losses the bank may incur as a result, while the national Baa2 rating reflects its relative solvency compared with other Russian banks/issuers.

In 2006, regional GDP has increased 6.3% and the region’s authorities have approved a surplus budget for the first time in 16 years with both industry and agriculture proving successful. Favourable trends in economic development have promoted the inflow of Russian and foreign investment in the region. Investments in the region grow 36-40% a year now and have reached Rbs160 bln ($6.11 bln) in 2006, including foreign investment of $1.5 bln. The region’s foreign trade increases by 15-20% a year and is close to Rbs9 bln ($343.38 mln) now. Major international trading companies operate in the region. In 2006 wages and salaries rose 25% and total incomes by 28%. The average monthly wage in the Sverdlovsk Region is Rbs13,500.

China’s Geely Holding Group is planning to launch a $50 million joint venture producing economy class cars with Novouralsk Automobiles and Motors of the Urals. The first batch of Geely CK1 Freedom Cruisers launch in March '07 with an expected 17,000 per annum to roll off production lines. Initially, all components will be supplied from China with that share reducing as Russian component production comes on stream.

The Polymetal gold- and silver-mining holding plans to increase the capacity of its plant at Vorontsovskoye deposit in Sverdlovsk from 600,000 metric tons to 900,000-950,000 metric tons following the investment of $10-$12 mln.

Official website: http://www.midural.ru

Contact Information
Governor
Eduard Ergatovich Rossel
1 Oktyabrskaya ploshad
Yekaterinburg 620031
Tel.: +7 (3432) 71 76 42; 70 54 69; 70 54 91
Fax: +7 (3432) 77 15 13; 70 54 89
Email: rossel@rossle.ru

Press service contact
Alexander Yevgenyevich Rygkov
Tel.: (3432) 17 87 18
Email: rezunkova@midural.ru

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Opposition as an Inside Job, Moscow Times, September 5th 2006 

Russia and the AIDS problem, RIA Novosti, Sept 4th 2006 

Nuclear Is Back in Fashion, By Shaun Walker, Russia Profile, March 6th 2006 

Political Career In Russia, Kommersant-Vlast, Nov 1st 2004 

Video/Slide Presentation of Yekaterinburg  (Youtube)