The share of timber processing in the Vitebsk region's GDP needs to be increased tenfold - A. Kosinets

May 14, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. The share of the forest and woodworking complex in the gross domestic product of the region should be increased tenfold within two years. This requirement was put forward today at a meeting of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee by its chairman Alexander Kosinets, BELTA correspondent reports. In 2008, the region's forestry enterprises received Br108.6 billion from the sale of industrial timber, which is 0.36% of the region's gross domestic product. Woodworking enterprises received Br192 billion, or 0.6% of the region's GDP, from the sale of processed timber. At the same time, the region has enormous potential for the development of forestry and woodworking. Annually, the area of forested land increases by an average of 4.5 thousand hectares, the standing timber volume by 4.5 million cubic meters, and the volume of mature stands by 3.3%. The volume of industrial and firewood harvesting is 2.8 million cubic meters per year. In 2008, the underutilization of the calculated logging volume was 630.8 thousand cubic meters. Forestry enterprises and woodworking companies are not fully utilizing the opportunities to increase the output of consumer goods and generate revenue from the use of hunting infrastructure, believes the chairman of the regional executive committee. "The region supplies raw materials, does not produce a final quality product, and thus loses added value," stated Alexander Kosinets. The region needs to develop furniture production, establish the production of wooden log houses, and pellets from wood waste, which are in demand abroad, and master the production of frozen berries and mushrooms. The chairman of the regional executive committee instructed to finalize the regional program "Forest" and set specific tasks for forestry enterprises and companies to develop new types of wood products. -0-