Approval of a new strategy for forest industry development may be delayed — the government and the market, it causes bitter divisions. In FFA, indicate that one of the major problems of the document — the absence of a clear plan for its implementation in the Ministry of industry also oppose a number of innovations of the Ministry, because the frequent changes of the document scare business. The office of the Vice-Premier of Victoria Abramchenko trying to force the litigants to compromise and at the same time support responsible recyclers of wood, retaining the reproduction of forests. Experts believe the idea of government is relevant, but I doubt their feasibility. He’s the White house makes it clear: if the departments do not agree, the authority for forest management and industry can be consolidated in a single authority.As it became known “Kommersant”, the Ministry of industry and trade and the Federal forestry Agency following the meeting on 20 July for the timber industry at the Vice-Premier of Victoria Abramchenko not reached agreement on the future strategy of development of the sector. To actualize the plans of timber industry complex development till 2030, adopted less than two years ago, the government ordered in March on the background of the pandemic and the global crisis. Note that with the previous strategy until 2020 had the same problem — in her many years have made changes, but abandoned it in 2015, recognizing its implementation failed.In the minutes of the meeting Ms. Abramchenko (there is a “b”) is marked “various positions” agencies — the Ministry is not satisfied with the changes in the development of the forest industry, the forest service — the Ministry of industry and trade a clear plan of implementation of the strategy in this part for two years, the Agency never developed. As explained by Kommersant’s sources, these differences are the different positions players in the market for forest management: of the companies in favour of old methods of clear-cutting, others are calling for sustainable development, and they argue about whose position will be taken into account in the strategy.The sector companies do not comment on the outcome of the meeting, but noted the need for a detailed plan and stable rules of the game in the industry. The Ministry announced that the differences with the FFA being constructively discussed, but the business environment is wary of frequent changes to the fundamental documents: “the Company build long-term plans, predict the construction and upgrading of enterprises and change of concepts can have a negative impact on these plans and competitiveness of Russian products on the world market”. The Ministry also noted in the development of the Ministry of natural resources a number of shortcomings, particularly the lack of financial-economic justification, without which it is impossible to assess the effects of their application.The Ministry of industry and trade and opposed the proposed transition of the nand market pricing in forest management, and plans for the removal of forest resources — for this there is no the necessary electronic platform, nor the methods, nor the regulatory framework. Do not agree in the Ministry and with the idea of the Ministry of environment to encourage deep processing of the charging of additional fees when you trade in rough timber and some timber products of low added value, with compensation at the further redistribution: processing determine the needs of the markets and can impose the law. Protest to the Department and against the centralization of forest management and related business services and functions is “impossible to develop a commercial market for forest services”. “Any restriction of competition leads to higher prices and deterioration in the quality of services and increase in the cost of raw materials”,— consider in the Ministry of industry.In the apparatus of the Victoria Abramchenko explained that the agencies seek from the absence of contradictions in the development plans of strategic direction and transparency of the timber trade. According to “Kommersant”, the Deputy Prime Minister does not suit the situation when the Ministry of industry and trade, Ministry of environment and the forestry Agency “prepare working documents” and are unable to agree on a joint state policy in the industry. To increase the negotiability of agencies, apparently, is designed and directed by Mrs. Abramchenko July 27, Vladimir Putin the letter (there is a “b”), where it is said that the Deputy Prime Minister is examining the “feasibility” of combining all functions in forest management in a single Agency.While the results of the meeting, on 20 July, Deputy Prime Minister instructed the Ministry of industry and trade until September 10 to set up a working group to discuss the problematic issues of priority investment projects in the forestry sector. By that time, the Ministry should submit proposals for their support, including help with infrastructure and tax incentives for socially responsible business. The Ministry with the Ministry of construction should consider the option of building and transfer of boiler-houses to biofuel in the regions where there is logging. In Minpromtorge say that this issue has already been studied — until biofuels can’t compete with gas and firewood, including due to higher cost of raw materials and equipment, but promising as a replacement for fuel oil and coal.Senior consultant Agency months of this year timber industry analysts Marina Zotova said that the instructions “clearly important” and relevant, but “the question is, how much qualitatively and in due time will be worked out these issues.” Instructions on the support LPK directed ministries and relevant agencies about once a year — the last time a year ago, they gave the government of Dmitry Medvedev — but the result of their execution is unknown.Olga Matushenko, Alexei Shapovalov, Anna Vasilieva
