OREANDA-NEWS. May 15, 2009. Dmitry Medvedev visited the Volga Federal District Medical Centre for Expertise of Quality of Blood Products and Fractionation of Donor Plasma and the Vyatsky Plywood Mill.

The President learned about the production of blood plasma products and the work of the mobile plasma centre. He also took part in the launch of the first machine in Russia capable of analysing donor plasma for infections transmitted by the blood.

The centre was created in 2003. Beginning in December 2006 a plant for producing blood products and based at the centre has been under construction in Kirov. It will be capable of processing 600 tonnes of donor plasma annually.

The construction of the plant and the creation of the laboratory complex and the plasma centre is the first innovative project involving modern industrial production of virus-resistant blood plasma products in Russia. It will provide substitutes for imports in one of the most expensive segments of the pharmaceutical market.

At the Vyatsky Plywood Mill Dmitry Medvedev learned about the technological processes involved and looked at samples produced by the timber industry in the region.

The Vyatsky Plywood Mill is part of Investlesprom, Russia's largest wood processing company. The first stage of the production of large plywood went into operation in December 2008. The mill will be able to operate at full capacity by December 2009.

Dmitry Medvedev also visited the Viktor and Apollinary Vasnetsov Art Museum.

The President is in Kirov for a meeting on socio-economic development in the Volga Federal District.