Media Advisory: UNDP and Stora Enso Press Conference and Forest Field Trip March 28 - 29, 2006

Media Advisory: UNDP and Stora Enso Press Conference and Forest Field Trip March 28 - 29, 2006

March 07, 2006

    Stora Enso and United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP) in China are very pleased to invite the press to
attend the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) to forge a long-term strategic
partnership between UNDP and Stora Enso, to be held at 2:00
pm, March 29, 2006 in the Function room no. 29, 2/F,
Building no. 5, Guangxi Mingyuan Xindu Hotel (Address: 38
Xin Min Road, Nanning Guangxi, China 530012, Tel +86
771-2118988, Fax [phone])

    This five-year framework of cooperation will promote a
win-win partnership between UNDP and Stora Enso focusing on
promoting sustainable development in local communities.  Mr.
Renaud Meyer, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in China
and Mr. Hannu Ryopponen, Senior Executive Vice President
and CFO, Stora Enso, will take part in the signing and
answer questions from the media.  Other participants
include representatives from the local government, academic
and local community. 

    This initiative is an immediate follow-up of an
Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) on Stora
Enso's forest plantation project in Guangxi Zhuang
Autonomous Region, recently undertaken by UNDP in China. 
This event will provide an opportunity to initiate a
multi-stakeholder dialogue by presenting the methodology,
process and outcomes of the ESIA.  Media will also be
invited to a one-day trip to visit the plantation site. 

    The tentative agenda is as following:
 
    March 28 Tuesday
     08:00 - 20:00    Visiting Stora Enso's plantation in
southern Guangxi

    March 29 Wednesday
     13:30 - 13:55     Registration
     14:00 - 14:40     MoU Signing 
     14:40 - 16:00     Multi-stakeholder dialogue on the
Environment and Social   
                       Assessment (ESIA)
     16:15 - 17:00     Press Conference

    Media attending the event should confirm their
participation to Ms. Wu Tao, UNDP, at 010 65323731 x365,
[e-mail]; or Ms. Nancy Lu, Stora Enso, at
021-63353050 x112, [e-mail] by March 15,
2006. ¡¡

    Stora Enso is an integrated paper, packaging, and
forest products company, producing publication and fine
paper, packaging board, and wood products -- all areas in
which the Group is a global market leader. Stora Enso's
sales totalled EUR 13.2 billion in 2005.  The Group has
some 46 000 employees in more than 40 countries on five
continents.  Stora Enso has an annual production capacity
of 16.9 million tonnes of paper and board and 7.7 million
cubic metres of sawn wood products, including 3.3 million
cubic metres of value-added products.  Stora Enso's shares
are listed in Helsinki, Stockholm, and New York. 

    UNDP is the UN's global development network, advocating
for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience
and resources to help people build a better life.  UNDP is
on the ground in 166 countries, working with them on their
own solutions to global and national development
challenges.  As they develop local capacity, they draw on
the people of UNDP and its wide range of partners.

SOURCE  United Nations Development Programme