Business news

RECHITSA, 11 April (BelTA) – There are big prospects for the development of the wood processing industry in the country, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said as he met with the personnel of OAO Rechitsadrev on 11 April, BelTA has learned.

The head of state reminded that some time ago he made a decision to modernize wood processing enterprises. However, there was an ambiguous reaction. “I understood why certain people criticize it and who criticize it. These are the people who do not want improvement. Their main principle is ‘the worse, the better’,” Alexander Lukashenko explained.

The process of modernization was not easy. There were certain problems, but this upgrade is nearing completion. According to the head of state, those enterprises would have disappeared without modernization. “They would have died on the market, no one would have bought their products. It is great that we made a timely decision to modernize them back then taking into account the availability of raw materials in the country,” he said.

The production of white pulp will be launched in Svetlogorsk District soon, existing enterprises will increase their production capacity. As a result, the output of timber will be raised to 20 million cubic meters per year in the country. The country’s resources make up 30-32 million cubic meters. “If we do not process wood on time it will worsen. You know what it means. Something will be used as firewood or chipped wood. That’s all. It is needed to process more than the next year’s target of 20 million cubic meters. We should process 30-35 million cubic meters of wood,” the President believes.

Alexander Lukashenko visited OAO Rechitsadrev during his working trip to Gomel Oblast on 11 April. The head of state was informed about the fulfillment of his instructions to retool, modernize and develop basic wood processing enterprises, the production and economic conditions at OAO Rechitsadrev, the development prospects of the enterprise. The President familiarized himself with modern technological processes involved in the manufacture of chipboards and furniture, saw the exposition of Rechitsadrev products.