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The Legislative Duma of Tomsk Oblast
September 17, 2009. The Duma Economic Policy Committee held a session at a large timber processing facility under construction in Tomsk Oblast – ZAO Timber Processing Complex ‘Partner – Tomsk’
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This is going to be a state-of-the-art MDF production and lamination facility. The deputies were shown around the complete shops and those under construction where new equipment was being installed. The facility capacity is 800 cubic meters of boards a day, or 264,000 cubic meters a year. The equipment for the new production is imported from Germany by Diffenbacher GmbH. Total cost of the project is approximately €180m. As many as 700 people will be employed at the facility and logging sites; their wages will surpass the Oblast average wage level.
While at the facility the deputies were also informed on the progress in implementing the Oblast Target Program ‘Development of the Tomsk Oblast Timber Industry for 2003 – 2010’. The Program developers set two goals – creation of competitive production facilities and sustainable forest management. The Program being rather challenging, it played its positive role and contributed to investment attraction.
In 2008 the Industrial Production Index (IPI) in the timber industry was 104 %. In the first six months this year, production slumped down to 87 % (in Russia – to 82 %). The average monthly wage is rising, though it is lower than the average in Tomsk Oblast. The industry provides quite comfortable conditions for lots small and medium businesses there.
The timber industry production is exported as well. In 2009 the export profit has been 97m rubles, i.e. the 2008 level is maintained. In 2008, timber share in the total export of Tomsk Oblast was 14 %. In 2009 this index has grown up to 24 %, hence showing a more stable timber status compared with the other export productions.
The Oblast Administration representative also shared other facts convincing of the timber industry rise. The same is demonstrated by the Project which the deputies were acquainted with on site.
‘Have we listened to a report on the Project progress sitting in the Duma Hall without visiting one of the state-of-the-art enterprises, ‘Partner – Tomsk’, we would certainly doubt in successful Program implementation,’ said Alexander Kupriyanets, Deputy Speaker of the Oblast Duma. ‘The key goal of the Program is to attract investments to the industry.
The example of this enterprise demonstrates that this objective is being fulfilled. Over 10bn rubles out of the planned 18bn have already been attracted.
And, besides, wood harvesting and processing volumes have been increased, employment is being restored, wages grow, thus increasing transfers to the budgetary system. Based on the estimates, the Program must be 80% implemented by the end of 2010, provided that the enterprises established in the recent years operate and reach their design capacity.
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