Kronospan Company intends to invest additional funds in the development of woodworking industry in Belarus. This is an increase in the volume of timber processing, production and export. In 2017-2018, Kronospan plans to invest an additional 211 million USD in its production in Belarus with the creation of about 120 new jobs.
Owner of the Kronospan group of companies Peter Kindle said that the most favorable conditions were created for the development of his enterprises in Belarus. Therefore, the company decided to significantly increase its investment. Initially, under the investment agreement, the company pledged to invest 150 million USD in production and create 150 jobs. But already in 2017, the volume of investments should exceed 1 billion USD, and during 2010-2016 more than 1 thousand jobs were created. According to the businessman, his company also offers the Belarusian government to create in Shklov a plant for the production of decorative paper.
“In Belarus we are attracted by materials, raw materials, highly educated personnel and the economic conditions created by the government – they are ideal. Moreover, Belarus has an ideal location for logistics organization," said Peter Kindle.
In Mogilev FEZ there are 39 resident companies. One of them is Kronospan OSB, engaged in the production of oriented chipboards. In general, the plant's products go abroad. Plates for frame houses are now popular in Europe. Here, the plant for the production of pitches has been launched, and an enterprise for the production of steel structures is under construction.
Tomasz Jančak, Director of Kronospan OSB, spoke about the enterprise's desire to work on direct contacts with forest husbandries and receive the necessary volume of timber as close as possible to production, which will minimize transportation costs. “We are ready to sign long-term contacts with the forest husbandries,” he said.
The company constantly increases production, sets a goal to produce a million cubic meters of slab per year. To this level, as it is said in the leadership, they came rather close.
“We have been already working for the third year. Last year, we managed to produce 645 thousand cubes; in 2017 we plan to make 700 thousand. And all subsequent years we will raise the volume. Our main market is Russia, CIS countries. Only 7% remains for the local market, “said Gints Grinevics, deputy director for investment activities at Kronospan OSB.
In 2010, Kronospan signed an investment agreement with the government of Belarus, according to which from 2012 to 2016 five large production lines were built in Mogilev and Smorgon to produce chipboard, laminated chipboard, MDF, impregnated paper, flooring.
Now the share of Kronospan accounts for up to 30% of the annual production in the woodworking industry in Belarus and up to 21% of the export of this sector.
According to information resources