Prime Minister Vladimir Putin congratulates forest industry workers and participants in the 8th International Junior Forest Contest on their professional holiday
The message reads, in part:
"Russia boasts the world's largest forest reserves. The conservation and management of these natural riches are among the top priorities of government policy.
It is worth mentioning that the forest industry has always employed highly qualified professionals for whom their job is a true vocation and lifework. Today you face important and topical issues. The main issues are to preserve the industry's resource base, to update or initiate state-of-the-art timber processing facilities, to introduce efficient resource management and to attract serious investment.
In addition, we need to enhance the profession's prestige. The traditional international junior forest contest can play an important role in this. It has established itself as an open platform for a productive dialogue for youth on a wide variety of issues and for the exchange of positive experience. In all, it serves to consolidate young people around the common objectives of ensuring environmental security on the planet."
