Putin urged to reduce dependence on foreign partners in the timber industry

The Russian timber industry complex should reduce dependence on foreign partners, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting on the development of this industry, transmits Kremlin press office.

“Of course, the key issue is the availability of modern technologies and equipment for timber processing. Unfortunately, there still remains a high dependence on foreign partners. I perfectly understand, and we all understand, that the task is not easy, but, of course, this dependence must be overcome,” the head of state said.

The President asked the participants of the meeting to focus on the development of the Russian technological base of woodworking in the course of their reports. Putin asked them to report on what “has already been done and is planned to be done to increase the output of domestic equipment and components, as well as to promote profile research in this regard.” The head of state stressed that this is also important for the modernization of the Russian pulp and paper industry. “Here it is necessary to increase the depth of processing, develop new types of products for various sectors of the economy,” Putin continued.

During his speech, the head of state noted that Russia accounts for one fifth of the world’s timber reserves. Putin called this a great advantage for the country both in terms of ecology and industrial development. “The question is how prudently we manage this resource,” the President noted.

Today Putin during a working trip to the Arkhangelsk region visited Ustyansk timber industry complex. The enterprise was built in 2011. The Ustyansky seed-growing complex is one of the six forest reproduction centers in Russia, where the entire cycle of planting material preparation is carried out.