OREANDA-NEWS. March 18, 2008. Inprom plans to acquire and integrate seven to eight welded steel structures factories and launch production of welded beams in 2008-2010, the company's CEO Igor Konovalov said.

"We plan to invest over \\$130 million in these projects, with funds going from long-term credits and our IPO program, he told journalists in Moscow last Friday. Our plan to buy welded steel structures plants in the European part of Russia, Urals, and in Siberia is part of Inprom's strategy, which envisages the expansion of the company's steel processing services with a target to become the largest steel service centre network in the CIS."

Russia is set to become Europe's largest market in terms of steel-product consumption within the next few years on the back of a boom in domestic construction. The country needs to spend around \\$1 trillion on new roads, rail, and power infrastructure within a decade, according to government plans.