The government-sponsored Innoprom-2010 international exhibition and forum for industry and innovation in the Urals is Russia's first exhibition showcasing the latest technology and most recent innovative developments in Russian industry.

"Russia today has to learn how to produce unique, knowledge-intensive and, without fail, internationally competitive products in all sectors of the economy, ranging from agriculture to high-tech," Mr Sechin said at the exhibition's opening ceremony. "And we should certainly focus on implementing the latest developments in occupational safety and environment protection."

After the opening ceremony, Mr Sechin visited the Innoprom-2010 exhibition, which featured displays from several major Russian and non-Russian companies, including the Renova Group, the Sinara Group, the Pipe Metallurgical Company, the Ural Mining and Metallurgical Company, Inter RAO UES, Gazprombank, Russian Railways, Siemens, BASF, DMG and many others. The exhibition has attracted over 500 companies from 15 countries. Experts estimate that the total value of all deals made at the exhibition will exceed 10 billion roubles. In addition to the exhibition, the Innoprom-2010 programme also includes over 400 special presentations.

After visiting the exhibition, Mr Sechin left for the Uralmashzavod plant, where he attended a signing ceremony for the 700-million rouble deal between the production facility and the German company SMS Siemag, which will supply equipment for the DSP-35 electric arc furnace.

In the presence of Mr Sechin, top Uralmashzavod executives signed contracts and agreements for drilling rigs with the Eriell Group (an oilfield service company) and the Syrian European Community for Heavy Industries. As Mr Sechin noted, Uralmashzavod drilling rigs are known for their "very high degree of reliability," having been designed to operate in the severe conditions of the Russian north. The deputy prime minister also said that Uralmashzavod had to show that it can be internationally competitive, as it is "difficult to make oil companies pay for something that is both more expensive and less efficient," Sechin said.

During his tour of the plant, Mr Sechin was also shown a new drilling rig built for Gazpromneft. The plant specialists explained to Mr Sechin that the drilling rig could operate in a wide range of conditions, including in the negative 50º C temperatures of the Russian Far North.

The Uralmashzavod plant is currently building five drilling rigs for Gazpromneft, three drilling rigs for Rosneft and two for the Eriell Group. Six systems for refurbishing offshore platforms are also in production for the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan.