Forest Information of the East – Information Service for Russian Forestry
Funded by Euregio Karelia Neighbourhood Programme 2001-2006

Objective of the project

The general goal of the project was to promote the operational preconditions of the forest and wood industry in Finland and Northwest Russia. The project was to utilise the expertise of the partner enterprises in the import of wood and sawn timber, increase the amount of imports and diversify the range of imports.

Main activities

• Composing of four publications regarding the Russian forestry and wood trade in addition to several other assessments, • Establishment of the ‘Forest Information of the East’ internet service at www.idanmetsatieto.info, • Establishment of information service points in Kajaani and Joensuu, • Arrangement of events and educational trips to Russia, • Networking and communications, • Producing material for educational institutions.

Achievements

As a result of the project, companies and officials were offered an extensive information package regarding Russian forestry and its current changes. The produced publications offered valuable information on Russian forestry and wood trade. The Wood Importer’s Guide described the operational environment in the Russian forest industry. The contact information of forestry industry companies and organisations in Murmansk, Leningrad and the Republic of Karelia was collated in the Forest Link directory. The current Russian instructions and regulations were collated in Finnish in the Forest Industry Instructions and Regulations folder. The ‘Forest Information of the East’ internet service contains an extensive information package about the Russian forestry industry and round timber trade. The website also contains an information service. The information needs of companies in East Finland were met by two information service points located in Joensuu and Kajaani. In addition to providing information, the information service points sought Russian contacts and assisted in business negotiations and creating contracts. The information service was also implemented by arranging different types of events and through educational trips to Russia. The import volumes of five companies were increased as a result of the project. The project increased the interaction between Finnish companies as well as their knowledge of raw materials needed by others, which is a prerequisite for creating a raw material supply network. Preconditions for creating two small networks were created in the networking and communication section of the project. In addition, one company was assisted in creating a production network in the Republic of Karelia. In addition to the actual target group of companies in East Finland, the information produced by the project was conveyed to officials, research and development organisations, and other parties in different parts of Finland and Northwest Russia. The partner educational institutions’ existing forest industry materials were also updated. A presentation and virtual material regarding the Russian forestry industry were created as new educational material.