Slash from the master's shoulder

Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov called on governors and businessmen to more energetically develop Russian forests

The further into the forest, the more and more difficult it becomes for Viktor Zubkov’s cabinet of ministers. During yesterday’s conversation in Syktyvkar with governors and timber merchants, the prime minister even got the impression that the development of the forestry complex in Russia is much more interesting for the state than for business . And to the federal authorities, not the regional ones. The government is literally luring investors of all stripes: “Go deeper into the forest!” However, investors are in no hurry.

The Ministry of Industry and Energy made a proposal to 32 regions: present projects for the development of the forestry sector. Only 18 responded. True, they tried to justify the trust, announcing 76 projects with a total volume of 490 billion rubles. Another ministry, regional development, according to its head Dmitry Kozak, has also opened its investment arms wide. “According to our plans, each subject can receive about 1 billion rubles,” promised Mr. Kozak. “You only need to submit an application for allocation of funds from the investment fund before July 1,” he explained. In general, the requirements of the feds are practically reduced to a minimum.

However, there is no special initiative from below. As a result, the prime minister simply exploded at a meeting of the council for the development of the timber industry complex held yesterday in Syktyvkar: “Never before have the state and government addressed you (governors and business - Ed. ) so specifically. Suggest, do! And what kind of things are these?! Who needs this?! Any region today can urgently receive money. What else do you need from the state? Let’s talk like this again, will we shake the air for another 15 years?”

Mr. Zubkov took a breath, after which he gave instructions: “We must start working on real projects in the second quarter at the latest!” “Without waiting for a strategy,” he turned to Deputy Minister of Industry and Energy Denis Manturov, who is also the executive secretary of the Forestry Council. “We need to get projects moving faster,” the prime minister ordered, realizing that the academic nature of the bureaucracy was not helping him. And Mr. Zubkov needs to manage to do something useful for the economy during the short time of his chairmanship in the Cabinet of Ministers. And let it be at least in the forest.

Mr. Manturov, meanwhile, outlined a rather traditional plan for the council. In addition to promises of money for already selected specific projects, he said that a concept for the development of the industry should be ready by March, and a strategy by June 1. Further, the Deputy Minister of Industry and Energy proposed moving to more ambitious goals - “entering the world market for advanced wood processing products.” And Mr. Manturov sees the equipment used in the forestry industry as predominantly domestic: “It is necessary to create a normal basis for leasing Russian equipment and not pay attention to imported second hand ones.”

In parting, the deputy minister reminded, mainly to foreigners, that already this year “the export of round timber from Russia will cease to be profitable” due to the introduction of duties. The Prime Minister, in turn, met on Komi land with Western investors - the management of the Austrian-Syktyvkar forestry complex Mondi. One of them said: “Supposedly, I was flying here on a plane and calculated that your revenue for a used cube of wood is $244, and for an unprocessed cube it is $44. As a result, there was a direct benefit of $200.” Mr. Zubkov at the same time boasted about the reliability of the Russian government: “You are very lucky! You are doing business in the most stable country against the backdrop of a global crisis. In a country with the most stable political system and stable taxes. That’s why you have such good performance and such profits.” In response, investors were not very surprised and, as usual, asked for benefits and preferences from such a rich and stable government of such a rich and stable country.

Vera KUZNETSOVA, Syktyvkar