Russia's accession to the WTO: Implications for Forest Sector Russia and Finland. Anatoly Chubinsky SPbFTU

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1 Russia's accession to the WTO: Implications for Forest Sector Russia and Finland. Anatoly Chubinsky SPbFTU

2 Prehistory Russia and Finland have long-standing friendly relations, which were built on the basis of bilateral agreements. The most intensive economic and cultural cooperation with the developed North-West Russia, especially in border regions: the Republic of Karelia, Leningrad Oblast, St. Petersburg. One of the priority areas of cooperation is the forest sector, given its role in the economy of the North-West Russia and Finland.

3 20 months in the WTO Have there been any changes in the forest sector of Russia's economy after its accession to the WTO in August 2012? In our opinion, 20 months is not such a long period to summarize, given the fact that it had been months of the economic crisis in the industrialized countries. Unfortunately, during this time period, the company UPM 's Pestovo was closed. Analysis of the dynamics of production volumes of timber products shows that, despite the economic crisis, in the period from 2009 to Russia increased production of wood products by an average of 4.8% per year. Results in 2013, according to experts, was less effective. Perhaps this is due to the global crisis, but in 2013 volume of Russian furniture imports exceeded domestic production volumes. In our opinion, this is the result of the insecurity of the market.

4 Brief characteristics of the forest sector in Russia 20% of the world's forests 83 billion m 3 of standing timber Share in Gross Domestic Product 1,3% Share in industrial production 3,7% Share in employment - 1% Share in world trade - 4% Share of export revenues 2,4 (54% of exports round wood and sawn timber)

5 Production of forest products in Russian Federation Index Units Round wood million m (113) 174(106) 170(111) 182(113) Saw timber million m (35) 21(35) Plywood million m 3 1,5 1,6 1,5 2,7 3,0 3,15 Particle board million m 3 3,5 6,6 2,3 5,5 6,6 6,75 Fibreboard million m 3 1,5 1,5 0,9 1,7 1,7 1,7 Cellulose Paper thousand tons thousand tons

6 WTO expands the opportunities for joint Russian and Finland business According to some experts, in the coming years is expected a slight increase of the world market of sawn timber, wood-based panels, pulp, paper and paperboard, and in Europe and the possible decrease in demand and production. In this regard, the role of emerging markets. In our opinion, this is a good field for interaction forestry business in Russia and Finland.

7 Russia has large forest resources in the Asia- Pacific region, and Finland - technology, development of forest engineering and woodworking machine tools, experience in conducting market economy, attracting investment in the forest sector and the creation of large international companies in the field of processing and reproduction of forest resources.

8 Direct investment business of Finland in the forest sector of Russia's economy in the last decade have greatly increased production of forest products and increase their competitiveness in the global market. This was made possible thanks to the experience of entrepreneurs in Finland on the global market, including knowledge of customer requirements and regulations for products, particularly in the timber, and the application of technologies using innovative methods and tools to evaluate the quality of products (JSC "Svir Timber").

9 Hence another area of coopera on - in the synchronization standards for wood products, taking into account the species of the wood growing in Finland and Russia, the introduction of Russian enterprises of innovative methods and tools to assess the quality of round wood and wood products (Limab, Microtec, Dynalyse). This work could be initiated by the project «CONIFER».

10 WTO and the Bologna Process - SILVA network, higher education in the field of forestry WTO was created during the active phase of economic globalization. Result of economic globalization is the creation of European educational space (Bologna Process ). As the impact of these processes on the state of forest education? From our perspective, in the last decade interest in education in the field of forestry declined. This we see in youth ( low competition for admission to educational institutions forest profile), and this is evident from the education authorities (reduced financing norms ).

11 Thank you for your attention