OREANDA-NEWS. On 29 January 2009 was announced, that Plenipotentiary Representative of Russian Federation President in Ural Federal District Nikolai Vinnichenko held a meeting on the efficiency of crisis-defying measures in the economy’s real sector in Chelyabinsk. The meeting was attended by Governor of Chelyabinsk Region Petr Sumin and heads and representatives of Ural Federal District’s largest enterprises.

‘The problem of most industrial branches is their poor technical capacity. 49.8% of Ural Federal District’s basic machinery is worn out, while the Russian average figures come to 45.3%. The available analytical data make it obvious that the most worn-out equipment is located at mining and power enterprises. At the same time, the growth potential resulting from greater use of the existing machinery has been nearly used up,’ Nikolai Vinnichenko said.

‘Having to rely on obsolete equipment has led to stagnation and low labor productivity as well as more expensive but lower quality produce; as a result, the goods made in the Urals are becoming more and more uncompetitive in many extents,’ he added.