OREANDA-NEWS. On 21 January 2009 was announced, that the awardees included Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Russian Minister of Justice Aleksandr Konovalov, Head of the Russian Orthodox Church Alexy II, Artistic Director of the Maly Theater Yuri Solomin, movie director Nikita Mikhalkov, and some other eminent politicians and public figures.

The award nominee for New Technologies was Anatoly Sedykh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of United Metallurgical Company. The award was granted for the commissioning of the Casting and Rolling Complex (CRC), Russia's first facility of that kind built from scratch over the past 25 years, and the completion of the world's largest facility for manufacturing large-diameter pipes (LDP) at Vyksa Steel Works.

"I regard this award as one for the entire OMK team," said Anatoly Sedykh at the ceremony. "Our Company's strategy is about making direct investments in the development of the Russian economy, building new plants in the Russian Federation, as well as modernizing and rehabilitating existing assets. To meet international standards, we have to build state-of-the-art facilities. The CRC and the LDP facilities will enable us to successfully compete with leading international manufacturers and have efficient production based on unique technologies of the 21st century."

The national Man of the Year award was instituted in 1993 by the Russian Biographic Institute, whose main objective is to research the Russian society through the activity of its elite. The Russian Biographic Institute's Diploma and Silver Cross for Outstanding Achievements are granted to the worthiest Russian and foreign citizens who made the most conspicuous contribution to the development of the Russian Federation. The nominations include such areas as religion, politics, economy, science and education, culture and medicine, small and innovative production, and others. The selection criteria cover candidates' professional achievements and those in the spheres of strategic importance for Russia (charitable activity, sponsorship, education, etc.)