New industrial parks and clusters in the timber industry
In 2024, two forestry clusters will begin operating in Russia. Each of the clusters will unite enterprises from different regions, and their joint activities will increase the efficiency of interaction and competitiveness in the market, and will also optimize production processes.
• Republic of Mordovia
A timber industry cluster has been created in Mordovia, uniting six enterprises of various specializations from five regions of Russia. Its key tasks are import substitution of industrial products and the organization of a full production cycle, from logging and processing of timber to the construction and finishing of houses.
On the basis of the timber industry cluster, the Plyterra company plans to launch new projects in the field of forest processing, in particular, the production of OSB with a capacity of 100 thousand m3 per year and phenolic film (up to 30 million m 2 per year). At least two other cluster participants - companies from the field of frame house construction - are interested in these materials.
Also, one of the first projects of the cluster will be an increase in the production of wood-polymer composite - WPC, which is used to make, among other things, cladding boards for facades, deck and terrace boards, fence boards, and pillars. Investments in these three projects will total RUB 5.5 billion.
The interregional status of the cluster opens up opportunities for creating new and expanding existing cooperation chains with the participation of industrial enterprises from several regions at once.
The cluster includes woodworking enterprises from Mordovia and Bashkiria, Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod and Penza regions, and St. Petersburg. Participants will be able to increase the efficiency of funds invested in production and attract additional funding, including through government support. In addition, the republican authorities have pledged to provide investors with tax benefits for projects implemented in the cluster within the framework of investment contracts. By the end of the year, the business is counting on federal financial support for the launch of the first projects, the implementation of which is planned for 2025–2027.
The creation of a cluster will also increase the investment attractiveness of the region, as it provides an opportunity to invest in a promising industry with high growth potential.
• Komi Republic
In the Komi Republic, by the end of 2024, an industrial park for enterprises in the woodworking sector will be launched. The cluster will unite six resident companies and will become the first such park in the region. Investment volume: RUB 1 billion
The creation of the park will be financed from the federal and regional budgets - about 500 million rubles, the rest - money from investors. The government of the republic has already confirmed that the design and estimate documentation has been approved, and construction will begin in the very near future: the site has been prepared, the headquarters has been built, the delivery of equipment and the laying of utility networks has begun.
The new project provides for the arrangement of production space for 2.8 thousand m2 with a reserve of 100 thousand m2 for the development of future initiatives. The industrial park is planned to house at least six enterprises specializing in wood processing. One of them has already officially confirmed its resident status. These companies will be able to take advantage of preferential rental rates and ready-made engineering infrastructure. Over 400 new jobs will be created.
