OREANDA-NEWS. At the VII Forestry Forum held in Arkhangelsk Victor F. Atamanov, Managing Director Strategic Planning and Marketing, OJSC Ilim Group, presented the strategy for development of the region's forest sector through 2020. This presentation was made during the meeting of the Russian Forestry Complex, Natural Resources, and Environmental Development Steering Committee under the Governor of the Arkhangelsk Oblast held as part of the Forestry Forum. In accordance with the Arkhangelsk Oblast forest complex development strategy, the main focus will be placed on developing transport infrastructure, which will significantly increase the industry's investment appeal in the region. Furthermore, to rapidly increase productivity of the forest sector it was proposed to manufacture more lumber, panels, products intended to substitute imports (packaging board, high-quality paper, including coated paper), and biofuel using the existing production facilities.

Ilim Group was invited to participate in the strategy development by Igor A. Orlov, Governor of the Arkhangelsk Oblast. The strategy had been earlier presented by the Company at the Standing Conference meeting of the Heads of the Municipalities of the South of the Arkhangelsk Oblast attended by the Governor. The proposals and feedback of the Conference participants were incorporated in the new revision of the Strategy presented by Ilim Group during the Steering Committee meeting. The Forum was also attended by Vladimir A. Slavutsky, Deputy CEO/GR Director, and Vladimir I. Fedfebelev, Director of the Forest Branch of Ilim Group in Koryazhma.