OREANDA-NEWS. January 30, 2012. Yuri Kancher, First Deputy Head of the Republic of Karelia, had a working meeting with Uwe Roth, General Director of Lafarge A&C (Aggregates and Concrete), a French industrial company. Last year this industrial holding acquired enterprises of Golodai Gora Quarry JSC, Bolshoi Massiv JSC and Shokshinsky Quartzite JSC within the Karelnerud Holding. Leonid Suevalov, Sales and Logistics Director of Karelnerud has also taken part in the meeting.

Uwe Roth has shared with Yuri Kancher his plans of the enterprise development, having mentioned that the main task is increase of production of crushed rock and construction aggregates up to 5 million tons a year and improvement in the quality of production. As of today, Karelnerud's quarries produce 3 million crushed rock a year.

Lafarge was founded over 170 years ago. At the moment it is the world leading manufacturer of building materials and is also in the lead in all spheres of its activity – cement, construction aggregates, concrete and gypsum wallboard. Currently, Lafarge has 600 quarries all over the world. The company works in Russia since 1996.

In the next three years the French company intends to invest €10 million in Karelia's quarries. Most of these funds will be spent on the infrastructure development. According to Uwe Roth, Lafarge intends to work actively with other international companies to invite them to Karelia. Besides, the holding intends to invest both in production, and in social facilities of regions in which territories the quarries are located. Lafarge supports such programs everywhere where it works.

– We enjoy working in Karelia, and we feel quite feel optimistic, – Uwe Roth said.

Yuri Kancher has wished director of the French holding fulfilment of all his plans. He has also pointed out that the republic is ready to cooperate with the enterprise and support it in solution of urgent tasks.