Mr Putin visited Nizhnekamskneftekhim, a joint stock company that manufactures more than 100 products, and a rubber plant, where he was shown the intermediate product of rubber crumb.

The Prime Minister was told that the plant's products meet not only Russian industry standards but also those of the world's best tyre producers.

The company operates 10 major manufacturing plants, and is the sole or dominant producer of polypropylene, polyethylene, and a wide range of synthetic rubbers in the CIS today.

Later on, Mr Putin visited the construction site of Taneco company, which specialises in oil refining. He was given a tour of the construction site of the company's first plant. A representative of the company said that the plant's completion would make it possible to switch from exporting oil to exporting high-grade motor fuel and use Russian-produced petrochemical products instead of imports.

Before a meeting on developing Russian oil refining and natural gas processing, Mr Putin visited the booths of important energy companies such as Nizhnekamskneftekhim, Kazorgsintez and TAIF-NK.

Mr Putin was also shown the GLONASS-based monitoring system, which was developed in Tatarstan for rescue teams and the police, and the electronic information terminal for direct access to public services.