Karelia and Belarus: Possibilities of Using the Karelian Stone in Construction

During the visit of the delegation of the Republic of Karelia to the Republic of Belarus, a round table was held dedicated to issues of architecture and construction using natural Karelian stone.

The Karelian stone processing companies showcased our stone palette to the Belarusian construction and architectural companies, including the major underground developer. Along with the renowned Karelian granites, the unique Kovadjarvi marble, which quarrying began this year, was presented.

During the roundtable, the participants discussed aesthetic and practical benefits of using the Karelian stone as well as the possibilities of integrating it into modern construction projects in the friendly country.

The representatives from Karelia provided a detailed description of the local stone varieties, its properties, and processing techniques, and also gave specific examples of successfully completed construction projects using natural materials.

– The Karelian natural stone is widely used in construction and restoration. In recent years, large-scale projects have been implemented in Russia using Karelian stone to improve parks, streets, and urban spaces, as well as to reconstruct and build metro stations and residential complexes. I am confident that our natural material will find application in construction projects in Belarus, where the stone is in high demand, – noted Svetlana Astakhova, the Minister of Industry and Trade of Karelia.

In addition to potential collaboration and the joint architectural projects implementation, the key topics included discussion of the prospects for engaging young people in construction projects using natural stone.

To organize further joint work in these areas, a cooperation agreement was signed between the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Karelia and the Belarusian Union of Architects.