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Foreign-owned breweries help
St. Petersburg economy to grow


St. Petersburg (18.11.2000 - Juhani Artto) The Vena Brewery is one of St. Petersburg's scarce foreign-owned production facilities. A two-thirds interest in this 450-employee enterprise is owned by the Denmark-based global concern Carlsberg, while one-third is owned by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). Carlsberg recently became Vena's majority shareholder by acquiring Sinebrychoff, a company with a long history of brewing in Finland.

Since 1994 Vena has invested almost USD 100 million in increased production capacity to respond to the rapidly expanding Russian beer market. In the middle of this heavy investment programme Russia's August 1998 economic slump took this profitable enterprise into the red. Despite this setback, its Executive Director Sergei Khudoleev is cautiously optimistic of restored profitability in 2001.

Russian annual average beer consumption has increased rapidly from less than 20 litres per capita to 30 litres last year. Forecasts promise continued growth in this sector.

Another Scandinavian-owned brewery, Baltika, with its 15 per cent market share, is the number one beer producer in the whole of Russia. Baltika has also concentrated its production in St. Petersburg.

Since 1993 Baltika has expanded its production capacity even more than Vena, with total investments exceeding USD 200 million. Interestingly, Baltika is one of St. Petersburg's main taxpayers, contributing USD 133 million to the local public economy in 1997.

The benefits of the city's modern brewery industry are also based on its relatively high pay levels. Average wages and salaries at the Vena brewery are more than USD 100 per month. This is above average for St. Petersburg industries. The pay level is one factor behind the low annual staff turnover at Vena, which is currently only two or three per cent. Another explanation is the difficult situation in the labour market. While the unemployment rate is officially seven per cent, the true situation is far worse than this.

 
Other sites on economy and working life:

viiva.jpg (1278 bytes) Increased disparities in wealth distribution  (Helsingin Sanomat International Edition 09.11.2000)
viiva.jpg (1278 bytes) Floating shopping centers might become a thing of the past (Helsingin Sanomat International Edition 24.10.2000)
viiva.jpg (1278 bytes) SAK member unions vote to go with two-year wage deal (Helsingin Sanomat International Edition 03.10.2000)
viiva.jpg (1278 bytes) National Economy
and State Finances

[Ministry of Finance]

viiva.jpg (1278 bytes) Occupational Safety and Health [Ministry of Social Affairs and Health]

viiva.jpg (1278 bytes) Dispute highlights threats to Finnish seafarers' jobs [eironline]
viiva.jpg (1278 bytes) Strikes break out as bargaining round nears conclusion [eironline]
viiva.jpg (1278 bytes) "Barometer" examines industrial relations in Baltic states [eironline]
viiva.jpg (1278 bytes) Strike levels fall in 1999 [eironline]
viiva.jpg (1278 bytes) Action programme launched to promote "ability to cope" at work [eironline]
viiva.jpg (1278 bytes) SAK computer campaign proves successful [eironline]
viiva.jpg (1278 bytes) European working time conference held in Helsinki

[eironline]

More on
and in Finland:

viiva.jpg (1278 bytes) Etusivu - The Finnish Link Resource
viiva.jpg (1278 bytes) Helsinki Camera - Views over the city
viiva.jpg (1278 bytes) Virtual Finland - Information about Finland - Facts about Finland
provided by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs

viiva.jpg (1278 bytes) Finland - World Fact Book entry - tons of links!
viiva.jpg (1278 bytes) Statistics Finland
viiva.jpg (1278 bytes) Helsingin Sanomat - International Edition - News from Finland
viiva.jpg (1278 bytes) Need a reliable lawyer - The Finnish Bar Association can help
viiva.jpg (1278 bytes) Moving to Finland? - Directorate of Immigration
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Ministry of Labour Migration affairs page
viiva.jpg (1278 bytes) National Equal Opportunities Network - Fighting discrimination