For a quarter of a century PAP-FOR has not just reflected dynamics of the development of the industry, but also served as a professional venue for the launch of innovative projects and technologies. For 25 years it has been the only industry event aimed at a dialogue on relevant issues of the pulp and paper industry between representatives of the industry and the state.

2018 sees the first time when over 60 companies from Belarus, Germany, India, Spain, Italy, China and other countries take part in the exhibition. Producers will introduce guests to their equipment and machines for the production of paper and cardboard, tissue paper, containers and packaging, waste paper utilization, as well as sewage water treatment, energy supply, measurement, control, management and monitoring of production.

Participants of the opening ceremony included: Nilokai Valuev, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Ecology and Environmental Protection of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Yury Lakhtikov, Chairman of the Board of RAO Bumprom, Sergey Malkov, Member of the Board of the Association of Specialists of the Pulp and Paper Industry, as well as Antti Lindqvist, Director General of PI – Forest Products Engineers, Anna Dycheva-Smirnova, Director General of Reed Exhibitions Russia, and Sergey Voronkov, Director General of EXPOFORUM International.

Nikolai Valuev gave a welcoming speech. He noted the importance of the forum for the development of Russian ecological policy: “I hope that processers will find interesting solutions at the forum that will help to save the ecology of the country. It’s important to touch upon the question of using resources after recycling. I’m sure, our foreign colleagues have not arrived empty-handed. And we’ll have an opportunity to learn. But we also have something to show! While visiting different regions of our country, I saw that Russia has really started taking care of ecology and renewed resources.”

Anna Dycheva-Smirnova spoke about figures marking the exhibition of this year: “Now there are 200 participants at our venue. That’s more than there were two years ago. At the moment, more than 4,000 professional visitors are registered, which is 15% more than at the previous exhibition. Also, this year we are holding an unprecedented number of sections - 16. We will do our best, so that these 4 days of the Exhibition and 3 days of the Forum bring necessary contacts to business, and new knowledge to students.”

Antti Lindqvist said that in the recent years the forestry industry has been transformed significantly due to investments in new technologies, products and processes. Global tendencies, such as attention to the environment, urbanization, and limitation of raw materials has enabled the process of renewal of the industry.

Sergey Voronkov congratulated organizers of the exhibition with holding the anniversary forum and presented the honorary diploma to Anna Dycheva-Smirnova. “Welcome to one of the best and most modern venues of the world. PAP-FOR Russia is the largest exhibition in Eastern Europe, and we try to conform to its level. In the last two years we’ve gained 5 international and Russian awards as the best venue,” the Director General of EXPOFORUM International noted.