Events

MINSK DISTRICT, 19 August (BelTA) – Starting 2015 forest utilization in Belarus has to reach standards of advanced economies, primarily Finland. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko gave the relevant instructions as he visited the national forestry breeding and seed production center on 19 August, BelTA has learned.

Alexander Lukashenko said: “Starting next year we should work the way they work in Finland, using integrated approaches for cultivation and growing technologies. If our specialists cannot do it, the forestry industry doesn’t need them. It is time to stop squandering forest resources!”

“I get pretty reports but I visit forests and can see how work is done over there,” noted the head of state.

Alexander Lukashenko reminded that when he appointed Mikhail Amelyanovich Forestry Minister, he gave instructions to study forest utilization practices of advanced economies and assimilate the best practices in Belarus. The entire process flow has to be compliant with the highest standards, stressed the President. He went on saying: “Only this kind of the workflow organization and industrial standards must be practiced starting next year!” The head of state added that the same kind of standards should be sought as far as the economic side of the forestry industry is concerned.

“We need order in the forest. It is our legacy,” stressed the President.

Alexander Lukashenko pointed out that a wide range of forest-harvesting machines had been created in Belarus. According to Alexander Shakutin, Chairman of the Board of Directors of OAO Amkodor, the managing company of the holding company Amkodor, the company started manufacturing machines for the forestry industry in 2006. Since then the company has mastered the production of 17 models. The localization level is roughly 60% but it is supposed to reach 90% within the next two years. The Forestry Minister remarked that the industry’s retooling allowed increasing forest harvesting up to nearly 11 million m3 of timber in 2013. Multifunction forest harvesters were used to secure 34% of the total harvested volume.

Amkodor’s product range was demonstrated before Alexander Lukashenko. The President was all in all pleased with what he saw but gave instructions to raise the localization level.