OREANDA-NEWS. Medvezhiegorsk region has become the first municipality visited by the working group on preparation of the single-industry towns' development concept during their week-long trip around Karelia. The working group is headed by Rashid Nurgaliyev, Deputy Secretary of the Security Council of Russia. During the trip he's accompanied by Head of Karelia Alexander Khudilainen, cabinet ministers, deputies of the Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Karelia Elissan Shandalovich and Sergei Mikhailov, heads of the region Nikolai Tikhonov and Vladimir Karpenko.

The single-industry locality in Medvezhiegorsk region is the settlement of Pindushi, and this is where participants of the working group went first of all.

The settlement's primary taxpayer is Karelia DSP Inc. within Investlesprom holding. Director General of the holding Anton Zavalkovsky and director of the enterprise Andrei Kochetkov have told that today the enterprise works stably, the number of its employees makes 430 people. Currently, Karelia DSP Inc. considers options of implementation of investment project of establishing a plywood production line in the industrial site of the enterprise.

Just like other Investlesprom's structures in Karelia, the enterprise pins its hopes for the future on change of ownership. The new owner of the enterprise will soon become Sistema JSFC which representatives have also taken part in the trip.

Another large enterprise in Pindushi, though unlike Karelia DSP Inc. undergoing difficulties in operation is Medvezhiegorsk Shipbuilding Yard. Since recently it is owned by Commercial and Industrial Non-metallic Company Ltd. Participants of the working group have visited the shipbuilding yard and discussed ways of its development with the owner. As financial director Dmitri Ravikovich has told, the primary task is 4-fold growth of ship-repairing in Pindushi. Today there are 58 employees working for the enterprise, 17 boats were repaired upon return to production. On results of the visit of the working group the decision was made that development plans of the shipbuilding yard will be reflected in the triangular agreement between the enterprise, the Government of the republic and Administration of the region.

Participants of the working group have also visited the Medvezhiegorsk timber industry enterprise located in the capital of the region. Just like Karelia DSP Inc., the enterprise is owned by Investlesprom holding. However, production was suspended there because of the obsolete equipment and high production costs. Participants of the working group have learned about transport infrastructure at the industrial site of the enterprise and options of the manufacture of sawn limber. The fate of the enterprise will be decided with the new owner.

Upon his visit to the enterprises Rashid Nurgaliyev observed: “As we see, many process units are in motion, people have positive attitude, and there are prospects for development.” According to Head of Karelia Alexander Khudilainen, today in Russia there are many regions featured for their single-industries, like Karelia. Therefore, within the scope of work of the State Commission for preparation for celebrating the 100th anniversary of the republic of which challenge is alteration of qualitative composition of economy of the republic, improvement of living standards of its citizens, the decision was made to form the fifth working group to take care of problems faced by single-industry towns.

Considering that more than 70% of economy of the region is formed by single-industry towns, it is necessary to take care of them, to preserve as many enterprises as possible, and to develop suggestions on improvement of prospects of these towns for small and medium-sized business enterprises. Representatives of five federal structures have arrived today with the working group. Having worked for a week in Karelia they will see the depth of analysis the problems of single-industry towns call for, and what could be done to help them, - Alexander Khudilainen said.

Detailed discussion of issues of social and economic development of Medvezhiegorsk region will take place in local administration at the conference with participation of the management of the municipal formation, deputies, representatives of workers' associations, small and medium-sized business enterprises.