PRESS RELEASES OF THE OBLAST GOVERNMENT:

16.12.2008. Today Alina Karpinska, Vice-Consul of the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Saint Petersburg, has come to Vologda on a two-day duration visit.

The visiting Vice-Consul is aiming to get acquainted with the economic and cultural potential of the Vologda Oblast, and to define guidelines for future partnership ties between Poland and the Vologda Oblast. The program of the visit includes meetings with Vice-Governor of the Vologda Oblast Government Nikolai Kostygov and the top leadership of the Department of Culture, and a sightseeing tour of Vologda.

The Republic of Poland is an active trade partner of the Vologda region. In 2007 the commodity turnover between Poland and Vologda region amounted to US$ 164 mln. OAO Severstal, OOO Agro-Cherepovets, OOO Sokoldrev, ZAO furniture-producing plant and OOO Sevestal-enamel are leaders in export supplies to Poland, the exports being made up of ferrous metals, mineral fertilizers, wood and wood-working articles. The Republic of Poland imports optic devices, chemicals, mechanical and electric equipment.

Polish enterprises and companies participate in the Russian Wood and Russian Flax, trade fairs that are held annually in Vologda.

Department of International and Interregional Relations   

15.12.2008. Ded Moroz, Russia's equivalent of Santa Claus, who lives in Veliky Ustyug, Vologda Oblast, continues the traditional pre-New Year trip.

Today the miracle maker is arriving in Cape Town, South African Republic. Then he will head for Frankfurt am Main, Germany, to meet German Santa, Weihnachtsmann. Ded Moroz will be also welcomed by children of South Africa, Russian and Indian polar explorers and he will get acquainted with Antarctica's inhabitants - penguins and seals. Antarctica is known as the most peaceful place on the planet, one needs neither a passport nor a visa to enter it. And Ded Moroz symbolizes kindness, justice and peace.

Just before the Christmas holidays Ded Moroz is to visit cities of Latvia, and some Russian towns and cities congratulating people on the New Year's Eve, subsequently organizing a fir-tree party in the Moscow State University.

Committee on Tourism   

12.12.2008. Russian Wood, exhibition for innovation technologies to be applied in the timber industry, in production of technological equipment for forestry and manufacture of wood and wood-working articles, is closing today.

The Russian Wood held in Vologda from 10-12 December hosted some 210 enterprises from 27 Russian regions and participants from 6 foreign states. 54 units of logging and woodworking equipment were on display in its exhibition space. The organisers announced conferences on a variety of issues relating to forest governance, sustainable forest management, application of energy-saving technologies, to mention but a few. It was also the setting for a number of out seminars and award ceremonies.  

Department of Timber Complex   

10.12.2008. Ribbon-cutting ceremony of the RUSSIAN WOOD, an internaional trade fair for woodworking equipment, machinery and wood products, has taken place in Vologda today.

The scope of the exhibition-fair is impressive. Trade visitors from 20 Russian regions, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Belarus are expected to attend it.

The main objective of the trade fair is to highlight the myriad applications of wood as a material, and to present the full range of technologies developed worldwide for the processing of timber into wood products of every kind. It provides a unique opportunity for the whole timber industry to meet, network, negotiate, conduct business and stay abreast with the latest developments in the forestry and timber industries.

The subject-matter of the exhibition organized in Vologda has been stable in recent years: round timber, sawn wood, chipboards, fibreboards, plywood, logging machines, feller-bunches and feller-skidders will be on display. http://file-server/IS/periodic.asp?V=2   

Department of Timber Complex   

09.12.2008. Delegation from Prešov (Slovakia) headed by its Governor Peter Chudik is arriving in Vologda on a five-day duration visit on December 9.

Among the members of the delegation there are entrepreneurs presenting different business sectors in Slovakia. The visit is aiming to boost partnership links in small- and medium-sized businesses. The Slovak delegation is due to meet Vologda Oblast Governor Vyacheslav Pozgalyov and local entrepreneurs in the Vologda Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Prešov is one of the first European regions that concluded a treaty on trade, economic, scientific and cultural collaboration with the Vologda Oblast. The regions have been sustaining partnership ties since 1997.

Department of International and Interregional Relations   

27.11.2008. Just before the Christmas holidays Ded Moroz, Russia's equivalent of Santa Claus, who lives in Veliky Ustyug is to show off his skills in an international Santa Claus championships scheduled for 28-29 November, Celle, Germany.

The town of Celle is chosen for a number of reasons. The residence of German Santa, Weihnachtsmann, is located there. And Celle has unlimited potential as a Christmas tourist destination.

60 Santas in red and white from all over Europe will earn points for pushing wooden sleds piled with presents across the lawn and for racing to wrap presents. To prove their Santa skills, contestants will ride a reindeer, compete in tree-trimming and struggle through traditional Christmas tunes. And, naturally, all the Santas will be tested on how well they could comfort children. It's all in the Christmas spirit. The audience will be carried to site of the championship by a special train. For passengers coming in fancy dresses the entrance is free of charge.

Department of International and Interregional Relations   

26.11.2008. CEOs of furniture-producing companies from Lippe, a district in the east of North-Rhine Westphalia, Germany have arrived in Vologda.

The visit is specifically focused on studying economic and investment potential of the Vologda Oblast and setting up partnership ties with Vologda's enterprises. The program of the visit includes a meeting with Leonid Iogman, First Deputy Governor, head of the Economic Department. In addition to it, the German manufacturers are to pay a visit to the Vologda Chamber of Commerce and Industry, furniture-producing companies of Vologda City and some furniture stores.

Tomorrow the German delegation will set off for Cherepovets, an industrial capital of Vologda Region.  

Committee on Foreign Affairs   

20.11.2008. Veliky Ustyug's Christmas-theme exhibition presents Russia at an annual International Christmas Festival in Vienna, Austria.

The exposition has been prepared by the Veliky Ustyug museum-preserve. It covers today's Christmas customs as well as centuries-old Christmas traditions - a Christmas tree decorated with Christmas baubles and ornaments dating back to different historical epochs, Christmas carols sung by children, and Ded Moroz, Russia's equivalent of Father Christmas, accompanied by his magical staff.

Among the countries participating in the event are Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, France, Austria, Italy, India and Mexico. They will present the most recognized New Year's and Christmas traditions around the world, Christmas-tree decorations, toys, fancy dresses, and Christmas figures.

Committee on Foreign Affairs   

17.11.2008. Meeting of the Northern Forum Executive Committee is being held in Vologda on 17-18 November 2008.

The meeting is aiming to discuss new by-laws and regulations of the organization, implementation of the ongoing projects and programs, and issues pertaining to membership in the Northern Forum.

The Northern Forum, a non-profit, international organization composed of sub-national and regional governments from eight northern countries brings regional government officials together to address common political, environmental and economic issues. The Secretariat of the Northern Forum is located in Anchorage, Alaska, USA. Its priority objective is to improve the quality of life of Northern peoples following sustainable economic growth and implementation of socio-economic initiatives among Northern regions. The Vologda Oblast alongside with Canada, China, Finland, Iceland, Japan, Korea, the USA, and other Russian areas is a member region of the Northern Forum.

Over the last six years the Vologda Oblast has been an active participant in the NF activities and projects - Youth EcoForum, meetings of the Flood Working Group, workshops of the Brown Bear Working Group, Youth Substance Abuse Treatment Training and others.

Experience of the Vologda Oblast concerning municipal government, tourism development and promotion of a healthy drug- and alcohol-free life is indicated as the most progressive among the Russian member regions.  

Department of International and Interregional Relations   

17.11.2008. Father Frost will celebrate his birthday on 18 November at his wooden palace in the forests at Votchina.

According to a newly created legend, Father Frost was born on November 18th in Veliky Ustyug, a small town in the Vologda region. The celebration will take place at Father Frost's Votchina, a few miles outside Veliky Ustyug. Festive performances, fireworks, sport events and concerts are part of the program. On this special occasion Father Frost will welcome his friends - holiday-season miracle-makers, wonderland creatures and helpers from different countries and Russian regions. Among the participants of the celebration there will be an official delegation of the Moscow City Government, children from endangered families and gifted children from Moscow.

The main purpose of the event is to bring up growing generation in the split of friendship among nations. Alongside with the celebration, an international conference will be organized aiming to discuss national customs and traditions reflected in the images of holiday-season miracle-makers.

Then Father Frost will light the first fir-tree lamps, and set out from his fiefdom congratulating people on New Year's Eve. This year he is planning to visit a Russian and an Indian Antarctic stations. http://vologda-oblast.ru/main.asp?V=118

Committee on Tourism