Belarus should make the best possible use of its renewable forest resources

Belarus should make the best possible use of its renewable forest resources, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he heard out a report on the development of the country's woodworking, pulp and paper industries, which he characterized as strategically important:

(soundbite)

The woodworking industry is the most important and strategic one for the national economy. Having considerable reserves of renewable forest resources, we need to ensure their rational use with maximum effect. We have made the decision to get all the added value here, at our enterprises. This issue needs to be resolved as soon as possible.

The president said that the major woodworking enterprises had been upgraded. Projects in the pulp and paper industry are currently under implementation. Considerable financial resources have been injected in this area, he said. According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, the industry shows a confident growth in general. The government pays the closest attention to the sector, with top officials being coordinators of its most important projects.

Bellesbumprom enterprises are engaged in deep processing of wood to produce high value-added products, more than 70% of which is supplied to foreign markets. This year, despite the difficult situation due to the coronavirus pandemic, Bellesbumprom’s enterprises managed to maintain a stable production and sales level. In January-August, enterprises exported $377.9 million worth of products.