SWEEDISH furniture producer IKEA will build a plant for processing of beech logs in Slovakia.
The Agriculture Minister Pavol Koncoš signed a long-term agreement on the project with IKEA's chairman of the board Bruno Winborg on January 15.
The plant will produce sliced veneer and its processing capacity is expected to be between 12,000 and 16,000 cubic meters of wood annually.
IKEA representatives have also agreed a contract with state company Lesy SR for a supply of logs for 20 years.
The plant tis due to open in the summer of 2003 and it will employ at least 150workers. The plant's location has not been confirmed. "After approval of agreements by the Sweedwood board of directors, we have to complete a survey of localities," said Winborg.