The Russian Timber Association took part in the investment congress in Abu Dhabi

The XIII Annual Investment Meeting AIM Congress took place in Abu Dhabi on May 7–9. The event was attended by a delegation from the Russian Timber Association, headed by its president Olga Kalyuzhnaya. In just three days, the congress was attended by 12.5 thousand participants from 179 countries. 352 companies from 71 countries took part in the forum.

The main theme of this year’s event is “How to adapt to a changing investment space: introducing new mechanisms for the development of the global economy.” Organizers note that the global economy is currently facing a slowdown due to slowing investment and disruptions caused by geopolitical tensions, as well as high inflation and rising interest rates. The focus of the AIM Congress was on developing strategies that could help international companies remain resilient in the face of economic uncertainty.

Olga Kalyuzhnaya, President of the Russian Timber Association: “The Russian timber industry is one of the most profitable business sectors. Despite external factors, investments in the Russian timber industry are showing positive results. For example, investments in the fixed capital of timber industry enterprises in 2023 reached 183.6 billion rubles, which is even higher than the successful year 2021, when they amounted to 181.4 billion rubles. With the departure of Western players in the Russian market, investment opportunities have opened up for businesses from MENA (Middle East & North Africa) countries in promising areas for a number of products that were previously imported from Europe. These investments may be related to highly value-added wood processing products and environmentally friendly technologies.".

As part of the congress, the Russian Timber Association presented its unique experience in the implementation and development of large-scale projects in the forestry industry and held meetings with potential investors.