Russia’s deputy minister of industry and energy has called for more than US$50bn of investment for the country’s timber industry by 2020.
In a statement, Denis Manturov said the sheet materials sector required more than US$11bn, while the sawn timber industry needed about US$2.7bn.
Government proposals for developing the timber industry will be submitted this summer.
Meanwhile, the country’s prime minister Viktor Zubkov said roundwood timber demand is expected to drop heavily from 2009 due to the phased tax increases on Russia roundwood exports.
