Mr Putin pressed a ceremonial start-up button, sending the first several dozen metres of electrotechnical steel, to be used in constructing a transformer, onto the conveyor belt.
The plant's CEO, Leonid Makarevich, told the Prime Minister about corporate plans. He said over 5 billion roubles had been invested in the Ufa plant in the past four years, including over 340 million roubles for the social infrastructure.