Cooperation between russia and finland in the timber industry
In the current structure of the Russian export of timber and paper products, 50% belongs to round timber. At the same time, Russia receives from other countries, including Finland, primarily high value-added products, for example 90% of import into Russia is paper and cardboard.
During the first nine months of 2009, the volume of bilateral trade in timber and paper products amounted to $1.4 billion. The timber trade balance is in favour of our foreign partners.
In connection with this, one of the key lines of development of the Russian-Finnish dialogue in the timber sphere is the establishment of joint production, the creation of a favourable climate for attracting investments in the development of the timber industry, and deeper processing of feedstock on the territory of Russia. Currently, over a dozen projects have been implemented in different regions of Russia with participation of Finnish investors.
Among them are corrugated cardboard factories in the Kaluga, Nizhny Novgorod, and Moscow regions. In the Novgorod, Vologda, and Leningrad regions and the Republic of Karelia there are sawing mills and timber enterprises. The Finnish companies Stora Enso and UPM-Kymmene were investors in those projects.
One more large priority project is the establishment by Koskisen Oy concern of a woodworking complex in the Vologda Region with a total volume of investments over 5 billion roubles. According to the plan, it will produce 20,000 cubic metres of saw-timber, 65,000 cubic metres of birch veneer sheet and 40,000 cubic metres of plywood annually.
