OREANDA-NEWS. On 31 August 2009 was announced, that meeting with representatives of Oy Sisu Auto Ab company producing Sisu trucks in Finland took place in the Ministry of Economic Development of the Republic of Karelia. Russian party at negotiations was headed by the First Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the RK Dmitry Bazegsky. Representatives of Petrozavodsk State University and Karelian Forest Industry Research Institute have taken part in the session. Opportunity and options of cooperation in the sphere of creating an enterprise for trucks assemblying and their after-sales service in territory of Petrozavodsk was discussed at the meeting.

Recently the strategy of Sisu has been reoriented from the European market to frontier territories of Finland, i.e. to the Northwest of Russia. In 2007-2008 to Russia there had been supplied 300 vehicles. In 2009 there has been delivered only 20 units of equipment. This slump in deliveries was influenced by the world economic crisis, and decision of the Government of Russia on increase of timber import duties. Now about 40% of equipment serving forest complex of Karelia are Sisu vehicles. Considering prospects of timber industry complex development in Karelia, increase in need for cargo transportations, and, having considered competitive conditions in the branch of motor industry in the European territory of Russia, the Finnish party has stated interest in studying the opportunity to implement this pilot project in the republic.

In the opinion of Finnish partners, implementation of the project of creating the enterprise for trucks assemblying and after-sales service in Karelia will strengthen Sisu's positions in the Russian market, and the Republic of Karelia will receive new workplaces and additional tax proceeds. The parties have agreed to form a working group on the basis of Ministry of Economic Development of the RK intended to solve specific issues to promote the project. The first joint meeting is scheduled for September of the present year.