Kastamonu Entegre Opened the Largest Wood Based Panel (MDF) Factory of Europe, Inrussian

PressRelease 26September2014

Kastamonu Entegre opened the Largest Wood Based Panel (MDF) Factory of Europe, inRussian Federation Tatarstan Republic ….

Turkish Wood Based Panel Player, Kastamonu Entegre, started up its 13th factory, on September 24th, at Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Alabuga, which is at Russian Federation Tatarstan Republic… The MDF factory which costed 270 million dollars, is the biggest one in Europe.

Kastamonu Entegre, which is operating under Hayat Holding umbrella since 1969, has built the biggest MDF factory of Europe in Russian Federation, Tatarstan Republic. Kastamonu Entegre is the first and only Turkish Wood Based Panel producer, which invested outside of Turkey. Kastamonu Entegre’s 13th production location in SEZ Alabuga costed 270 USD and will provide 2.500 direct and indirect new jobs.

This MDF factory is the first of the six plants, which Kastamonu Entegre is planning to open in Russian Federation. The opening ceremony has been hosted by the Chairman of Hayat Holding, Mr. Yahya Kiğılı.Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov, Turkish Minister of Forestry and Water Management Veysel Eroğlu, Tatarstan Prime Minister Ildar Khalikov, Russian Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Georgy Kalamanov, bureaucrats and about one thousand businessmenfrom Russia and Turkey took part in solemn opening of Kastamonu Entegre plant

With 270 million dollars of funding of the first project stage, the plant will produce 475, 000 cubic metres of MDF panels and 20 million square metres of flooring per year. The second stage implies production of 725, 000 cubic metres of MDF panels, and the third stage (2017-2018) – 500, 000 cubic metres of MDF panels a year.

About 80 per cent of produce will be sold in Russia, 20 per cent will be exported to Asia and Eastern Europe. Rustam Minnikhanov said that the event is very important for Russia and Tatarstan. He also reminded that the decision about implementation of large-scale Turkish projects in Tatarstan was made during the visit of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and President Abdullah Gül to Tatarstan four years ago. Kastamonu Entegre was the first big project.

Rustam Minnikhanov noted that opening of the plant will favour development of small and medium businesses and furniture production in Tatarstan.

Rustam Minnikhanov thanked Turkish Minister of Forestry and Water Veysel Eroğlu for participation in the opening ceremony and promised that Tatarstan leadership will render overall assistance to further development of the enterprise.

Georgy Kalamanov said that opening of Kastamonu Entegre plant is a considerable contribution to realization of the strategy of Russian forestry development.

CEO of Kastamonu Entegre, Mr. Haluk YILDIZ, in his turn, said that the plant’s annual production output will make 170 million dollars, and 2,500 jobs will be provided. He also confirmed intentions of Hayat holding to continue implementing investment projects in Tatarstan and addressed Tatarstan President with request to help with passing bureaucratic procedures, supplying raw materials, staff training and providing accommodation for employees.