OREANDA-NEWS. October 15, 2010. Belarus’ annual felling, at 12-13 million cubic meters, makes only 50% of the requirement, at 25 million cubic meters a year, President Alexander Lukashenko told.

“We are short of the felling requirement. We need to have 25 million cubic meters a year, but we cut only 12-13 million cubic meters. Forests stand idle,” the president said.

He said Belarus would increase the felling volume. “We are upgrading our woodworking companies – eight of them – following western patterns. Some of them will be launched as early as 2011, and the program will be completed in 2012.”

According to him, Belarus has built a paper factory. “We support our furniture industry, we keep expanding it, and will felling at 25 million cubic meters a year there will be enough timber for the furniture industry,” Lukashenko explained.