OREANDA-NEWS. March 16, 2010. Head of Karelia Sergey Katanandov has made a working trip to Segezha region.

The key event of the visit was signing of the Agreement on social and economic partnership for 2010 with Segezha Pulp and Paper Plant, the largest enterprise of the region.

Signing of the Agreement was preceded with the meeting of the Head of the republic with the economic core group of the pulp and paper plant where results of work of the enterprise in the previous crisis year and plans for the future were discussed.

The beginning of the year 2009 was hard for the plant, as at the height of the crisis there was no demand for production. However, within the year it became possible not only to make up the backlog, but even to take over the leadership on some parameters. Production of micro-crepe sack paper in Segezha has grown by approximately 25% while the competing enterprises have decreased its production. Thus, during the crisis the plant has managed to strengthen its positions in the market considerably. Due to speed-up, in 2010 the main task for the enterprise is wood supply.

Segezha Pulp and Paper Plant today is a part of Investlesprom holding, the largest in Russia vertically-integrated timber processing structure. Besides the plant, in territory of Karelia the holding owns a number of logging and wood-processing enterprises. Therefore, as well as work of the plant, the conversation in Segezha concerned life of many logging camps of the republic, which well-being directly depends on stable work of the pulp and paper plant. From the Investlesprom representatives Sergey Katanandov has demanded to pay special attention to work with lumberers and local authorities. "Show respect for the people working in the forest, go to logging camps and participate in solution of their problems. This is the only way to make the plant reliably provided with raw timber," – Head of the republic said at the meeting.

The Agreement on social and economic partnership in the presence of the Head of Karelia was signed by Executive Director of Segezha Pulp and Paper Plant, Inc., Vladimir Ermakov, Assistant to the Prime Minister of the Government of Karelia Valery Momotov and Head of Segezha Region Administration Yuri Andreyev. According to the document signed, in 2010 the plant has undertaken to provide growth of sack paper production volumes by 6.3%, to take measures to provide planned growth of labour productivity by 29.6% and average wages by 8.3%, to take measures to preserve workplaces.

In turn, the Government of Karelia within the scope of the Agreement signed will promote solution of tasks at realization of the Polar Bear main investment project of the enterprise providing construction of the bleached pulp cooking factory, will assist in decision-making on subsidizing of rates on credits from the federal budget obtained by Segezha Pulp and Paper Plant in the Russian banks, will promote establishing of flexible policy for regulation of railroad fares.

The Agreement also provides other directions of teamwork. Thus, the local administration will take part in implementation of programs of reconstruction of thermal networks of Segezha, and Government of the republic will consider an opportunity of subsidizing local budgets for reimbursement of expenses due to sharp growth of residual fuel oil prices.

During his trips to regions Sergey Katanandov pays special attention to meetings with people. In Segezha Head of Karelia has met with veterans of the region. Over a cup of tea in cosy atmospere of the Social Service Center the conversation concerned the post-war becoming of the town and current affairs. Head of Karelia has presented veterans of the Great Patriotic War with medals to the 65th Anniversary of the Victory.

During his trip to the region, except Segezha itself, Head of Karelia has also been to the settlement of Ppopv Porog where he has visited the recently constructed Segozersky trout-breeding farm. At the the perspective enterprise there are 25 workplaces and construction of a fish-processing shop where 15 more people will work has been launched. Commissioning of the new shop is scheduled for September.