OREANDA-NEWS. On 12 February 2009 was announced, that by results of the meeting held by the Head of the Republic of Karelia Sergey Katanandov with the Finnish holding PKC GROUP OYJ President Harry Suutari, interdepartmental working group has been created to study the situation at AEK, Ltd., and Electrokos, Ltd., Kostomuksha electrotechnical industry enterprises being a part of PKC GROUP OYJ, and render assistance in development of measures for stabilization of their industrial activity.

On February 2 working group led by the Assistant to the Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Karelia Alexander Kolesov has held an exit session in Kostomuksha.

In the meeting there participated 31 heads of the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Economic Development, Ministry of Natural Resources, Ministry of Labour and Employment, State Committee on Reforming of Housing and Communal Srvices, State Committee on Energy and Rate Management of the Republic of Karelia, representatives of the administration of Head of the Republic of Karelia, Karelian customs, Association of Trade Union Organizations, heads of Administration and Council of Kostomuksha urban district and representatives of PKC GROUP OYJ.

Finnish delegation was headed by the PKC GROUP OYJ President Harry Suutari. He has introduced the candidate for director AEK, Ltd., Mr. Antero Happalajnen who is now passing the reconciliation procedure to assume this post. The Finnish party was represented by SysannaLitendal, director on development of PKC GROUP OYJ in the Russia/CIS direction.

The conversation was making difficult progress, however, during the discussion and exchange of opinions the parties have succeeded in achieving the main result that the enterprises in Kostomuksha will remain, which means that several hundred people will have steady jobs.

President of PKC GROUP OYJ Harry Suutari has assured, that plans on production transfer from Karelia to Estonia will not be implemented, and business-units of the holding will stay in Kostomuksha.

However, for this purpose it is necessary to resolve available problems in the field of taxation, customs procedures, fytosanitory control, energy, etc.

Great teamwork of the Government of the Republic of Karelia and PKC GROUP OYJ for preservation of competitiveness of enterprises under conditions of the world financial and economic crisis is expected in the near future.