The processing of all timber should be ensured within the country. This requirement was announced by the President yesterday as he heard a report on round timber export.
The Government suggested extending timber export quotas. The President reminded that a decree banning the export of unprocessed timber without his consent was signed at the beginning of last year, exceptions being such cases as a large-scale felling of trees in the aftermath of a storm. Alexander Lukashenko gave his permission to export almost 2 million cubic meters of unprocessed timber this year, warning that all timber resources should be processed within the country in the future. The current decision is due to the fact that not all wood industry enterprises have undergone modernisation. The main task is providing the domestic market with raw materials and consequently releasing export-oriented products.
