OREANDA-NEWS. On 28 July 2009 was announced, that in St.-Petersburg Head of the Republic of Karelia Sergey Katanandov has taken part in session of the Council for the Development of the Timber Industry at the Government of Russia chaired by First Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of Russia Viktor Zubkov. The session will be held on the basis of St.-Petersburg Forest-Technical Academy.

The council considered issues of scientific and human resourcing of timber industry complex and forestry, the course of implementation of priority investment projects in the field of forest exploitation in the Far East and Northwest federal districts. Sergey Katanandov was one of the governors who gave their reports to the Council.

By the end of the session of the Council Head of the Republic has made some comments.

– One of the issues we discussed was training of experts for forestry, – Sergey Katanandov has told. – Today it is a problem. Timber industry needs investments, involvement of new partners. At the same time, usual everyday work should be performed, forest needs regeneration and fire safety. We need specialists able to work at enetrprises, operate wood machines. Six thousand experts graduate annually in the country to work for this industry. Only one half comes to wood settlements, and very few stay to work in theis sphere. During the discussion there spoke many people, rectors of universities, representatives of business, governors. 90 percent of Russia's territory is covered with woods. It is necessary to be able to work with them! – Sergey Katanandov has told.

When the Council considered the issue investment activity in timber industry, governors of Northwest regions of Russia, including Head of the Republic of Karelia, have delivered their reports. Sergey Katanandov has told about resuts achieved in Karelia in this sphere. It is well-known that Prime Minister of Russia Vladimir Putin is concerned about processing of wood and discontinuance of roundwood export. Karelia has some achievements in this sphere.

- I have told about projects we carry out in Pitkaranta region and in Kostomuksha, - Sergey Katanandov has told, – About saw-mill in Solomennoye, about projects on Kondopoga and Segezha plants. Of course, I spoke of necessity to develop wood-processing further on. First, it is the matter of credits. Second, it is inclusion of such projects in the priority list to receive tax remissions and so on. There also spoke governors of other territories, we have had a serious conversation.

Sergey Katanandov has emphasized, that for the Republic of Karelia the most important now is to implement two projects in Kondopoga and in Segezha. Government of the republic renders assistance to the management of Kondopoga pulp and paper plant to realize a number of projects on development of the enterprise. The Polar Bear project is about to launch in Segezha. Cost of this project makes 900 million euros, it assumes creation of modern hi-tech production of cellulose on the basis of Segezha pulp and paper plant. There will be created the largest and advanced enterprise in the world producing bleached coniferous cellulose and bleached deciduous pulp of birch. Of course, without support of the state banks we will not be able to carry out the project, Sergey Katanandov considers. Head of the Republic has already enlisted Vladimir Putin's support in realization of the Polar Bear project during the Prime Minister's visit to Petrozavodsk. Now we have also obtained assistance of Victor Zubkov and the Council for the Development of the Timber Industry. As Head of the Republic considers, it is a guarantee that the project will be carried out successfully.