OREANDA-NEWS. February 05, 2010. Last year production index in Karelia has made 90.1% to the level of 2008 at the average of 89.2% for Russia and of 88.6% for the Northwest of the country. Such figures final for 2009 according to the State Committee of Karelia on Statistics were cited on February, 1 at the daily briefing in the Government of the republic by the Prime Minister Pavel Chernov.

On this parameter Karelia today is on the fifth place in the Northwest Federal District, having bypassed St.-Petersburg, Vologda and Kaliningrad areas and many other regions.

Despite of consequences of the global economic crisis which has affected all major economic states including Russia, our region has managed to its positions generally in many branches of economy.

The largest production index at that was observed in fishery which has managed to consolidate achievements as well as to increase production volumes (135.7%), in production of furniture and similar products (125%), in pulp and paper industry (97.3%), in generation and distribution of electric power, gas and water (96.4%), in food-processing industry (91.8%), timber cutting (90%), extraction of minerals (88.4%) (especially metal ores, where production index has made 91.7%), chemical manufacture (86.6%), polygraphy (85.7%) and wood-working (85.6%).

It is also necessary to note, that in November and December, 2009 Karelian economy managed to increase its rates of growth considerably, thus, the gain in production in many branches made from 10-15% up to 2-3 times compared to the same period of 2008. All this, of course, indicates that the majority of Karelian enterprises could overcome economic difficulties and have started to work actively.

Nevertheless, it is not time ti rest yet, Pavel Chernov has noted. Final results of the economic year will be brought at the special session of the Government where prospects of further development for 2010 will be discussed, too.