Finnish Forestry Welcomes Government Program
3/5/99
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Title: Finnish Forestry Welcomes Government Program
Source: Reuters Limited
Status: Copyright 1999, contact source for permission to reprint
Date: March 5, 1999
HELSINKI - The Federation of Finnish Forest Industries on Thursday
welcomed a national forest programme launched by the government.
"The programme promotes the sustainable development of the forest
industry, fellings and industrial use of timber," the federation said
in a statement.
The agriculture and forestry ministry said the programme aimed to
increase the export revenue of Finnish forestry companies by 10 to 20
billion markka a year by 2010.
Forestry exports totalled 61.9 billion markka in January-November
1998 and 61.4 billion markka for the full year in 1997.
It also said it sought to increase the use of domestic raw wood by 5
to 10 million cubic metres a year by 2010 and double the forest
industry's value-added.
The ministry also said it would finance forestry-related
environmental protection, research and training.