P.S. Osipov, general director of VNIIB, congratulated everyone with the opening of the exhibition and wished visitors and participants an effective work during all the event. Y.S. Avdeev, the main counselor of the body of authorized representative of president of Russia in North-West region, noted that PAP-FOR exhibition became the traditional venue for the industry professionals.
This idea was supported by the chairman of board RAO (Russian Joint Stock Company) “Bumprom” V.A. Chuyko, who described PAP-FOR as the traditional meeting place of all the paper specialists.
The general manager of ILIM goup Mr. Paul Herbert expressed his pleasure from the participation in the event and declared that the recession in pulp and paper industry is left behind and now it’s a time for investments, growth and time to benefit. Mr. Herbert noted the importance of government influence in growth of a private sector and stressed the fact that in his opinion PAP-FOR favors this co-operation.
At the end of the ceremony Ms. Pirkko Molkentin-Matilainen, the president and CEO of the Finnish Paper Engineers’ Association, took the word. On behalf of the Association she greeted the audience and expressed her gratitude for having a chance for the second time to be a part of the organizers of the event.
The opening ceremony was ended with all the honored quests and organizers cutting the ribbon.