Belarus Plans Second Pulp And Cardboard Mill To Boost Timber Sector

Belarusian Prime Minister Aleksandr Turchin announced plans to construct a second pulp and cardboard mill as part of major investment projects outlined in the draft social and economic development program. The initiative targets growth in the timber processing sector, alongside developments like a polypropylene plant in petrochemistry, a precision aluminum casting facility in metallurgy, and a high-power tractor production site in mechanical engineering. These strategic builds aim to significantly enhance manufacturing efficiency, projecting a 1.4-fold increase in value-added per worker across key industries. The announcement came during Turchin's address to the Belarusian People’s Congress in Minsk on December 19, underscoring the government's focus on industrial expansion and economic resilience. Supporting scientific advancement through 12 state research programs, 20 science and technology initiatives, and a national innovation program will elevate GDP science-intensity to 1% while boosting innovation-active organizations to 45%. This pulp mill project positions Belarus to strengthen its pulp and paper production capacity amid regional timber resource utilization.​