May 29, 2012. /Lesprom Network/. Walki Group has taken an important step in realizing its strategic growth plan for the emerging markets as the new plant in Svetogorsk in Russia celebrated its opening. The next step is already in the pipeline: establishing Walki’s own sales office in Moscow, as the company said in a press release received by Lesprom Network. Establishing dedicated production facilities in Russia is a logical consequence of Walki’s close co-operation with many of its customers as well as a first step towards entering new business areas in the Russian market as a domestic supplier. The new Walki plant is located at the ZAO International Paper pulp and paper mill, cementing further long-standing and successful partnership. For years Walki has been supplying ream wrapping for International Paper Russia’s well-known office paper brands Svetocopy and Ballet. “We have plenty of experience in the Russian market when it comes to, for example, products for the paper industry, flexible laminates and packaging material for steel products. Our new establishment in Svetogorsk will enable us to provide faster and more flexible service to our existing customers,” says Timo Finnström, Vice President Paper Packaging and Sourcing, Walki. “We have a range of products that in due time could be very interesting for the Russian market. A good example is flexible packaging applications and another is our range of high-class insulation facing materials and membranes,” Timo Finnström says. Franz Marx, President of International Paper Russia, commented: «Our long-standing partnership with Walki has now reached a new level: this project of Walki packaging production plant at Svetogorsk site will advance International Paper's commitment to the operational excellence and therefore to our customers by improving the flexibility and security of supplies of our key product – multifunctional office papers. We also believe that this opening will have a positive impact for the region, creating new jobs, attracting investments and economic prosperity to the city of Svetogorsk”. The next step for Walki will now be the opening of its own sales office in