OREANDA-NEWS. August 9, 2010. Yuri Kancher, Acting First Assistant to the Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Karelia, has held a meeting devoted to results of work of Karelian economy in the period of seven months of the year. Heads of key ministries of the economic block have taken part in the meeting, namely: Acting Minister of Economic Development of the RK Mikhail Yurinov, Acting Minister of Forestry Vladimir Yuriev, Acting Minister of Natural Resources Mark Orlov, Acting Minister of Agriculture, Fish Industry and Ecology Grigory Manuilov, Acting Minister of Labour and Employment Giviy Karapetov.

On results of work in the period of seven months rise in production is observed on the majority of branches. On preliminary data, the index of industrial production on large and medium organizations of the republic compared to the same period of the last year has made 115.8%. The greatest growth is observed in food production (130.6%), extraction of minerals (129.3%), wood-processing and production of wooden articles (110.7%), metallurgy and metal industry (106.6%), production of machines and equipment (105.5%), production of furniture (102.3%). Pulp-and-paper and chemical industries have maintained their last year's positions.

Among the leaders of Karelian economy Acting Minister of Economic Development of the RK Mikhail Yurinov has mentioned Karelsky Okatysh. The Nadvoitsy Aluminium Smelter has ramped up production volume that was promoted by growth of global aluminium prices, Wartsila Hardware Plant has ramped up production, Karelian pulp-and-paper mills work stably. According to the Ministry of Forestry, Solomennoye Saw-Mill, SwedWood Karelia, Ltd., Setles, Ltd., Segezha Sawing and Woow-Working Mill and many others work confidently in wood-processing. The level of logging straightens gradually. A batch of harvesters has been sold by Onego Tractor Plant for forest industry. By the end of the year Onego ship-building factory plans to launch three new boats, however, prospects of workload of the enterprise for the next year are not determined yet. On results of six months, production of cables for automobiles at AEK, Ltd., has doubled,production of electronic printed circuits at Elektrokos, Ltd., has grown. According to the Ministry of Labour and Employment, the official unemployment rate today does not exceed 2.9%.

Participants of the meeting have in detail discussed situation at the problem enterprises: Auer and Varlen Sawmill, Ltd., Avangard Shipyard, Ranta-Maki quarry, Ilyinsky Sawmill, Paozero Timber Industry Enterprise and others, as well as problems of mining enterprises which today have a rough time with selling their products due to landslide of roadmetal prices and growth of freight transportation tariffs. One of items on the agenda of the meeting was necessity of further work with trading network companies concerning promotion of products made in Karelia.