N e w s

"In 2000 JSC"ALROSA" will pay to the Federal budget 2.6 billion of roubles, to the Republican budget - 5.7 billion of roubles in taxes and 7.65 billion of roubles in the form of the leasing payment. The overall volume of taxes and mandatory assessments will total 19 billion and 74 million of roubles",- said today at the press-conference Mr.Shtyrov, the president of the company.

In 1999 Company paid 15.9 billion of roubles in taxes. At that, the president of "ALROSA" mentioned that last year the Company has increased tax and other mandatory payments to the budget of Yakut Republic.

In 1999 Company extracted diamonds for $1 billion and 521 million and sold its products for $1 billion and 412 million. In 2000 "ALROSA" will produce for $1 billion and 516 million and sell the diamond ore for $1 billion and 460 million. Throughout the group "ALROSA" (around 40 enterprises) these positions will total accordingly $1.636 billion and $1.686 billion.

According to Mr.Shtyrov "ALROSA" will substantially expand its cutting production and will cut for $104 million, and the whole group - for more than $200 million. In 1999 JSC "ALROSA" produced brilliants for $40 million. At that Mr. Shtyrov said that only 3% of produced brilliants are supplied to the internal market, and almost all of products are sold to the Foreign markets, mainly to USA and Belgium.

Source: PRIME-TASS