PORTLAND, Maine (News release) -- ND Paper is proud to announce we have been honored as the Foreign Direct Investor of the Year Award by the Maine International Trade Center (MITC).

The award, which ND Paper's CEO Ken Liu will accept on May 24 during the Maine International Trade Day event in Portland, Maine, recognizes foreign-owned companies that have made a strategic decision to invest in Maine by either opening a new facility or enhancing their existing operations. We're on track to reopen the Old Town mill this year, and are making strategic investments to ensure the Rumford mill continues to operate safely and efficiently for decades to come.

"What's exciting about ND Paper is they are bringing a 100-year outlook to these mills, so our focus has switched from surviving to thriving," said Vice President and Rumford General Manager Randy Chicoine. "These investments give the communities hope and the next generation hope of a future in the pulp and paper industry."

MITC included this news about ND Paper as part of the award announcement:
One of the world's leading paper product manufacturers has made a major investment in Maine's pulp and paper industry, helping to revitalize two mills. A wholly owned Illinois-based subsidiary of Nine Dragons Paper (Holdings) Limited, ND Paper purchased mills in Rumford and Old Town in 2018.

Nine Dragons Paper (Holdings) is Limited operates nine mills and 39 machines worldwide with total global annual production capacity of more than 14 million tons. ND Paper operates three pulp and paper mills in the U.S. and plans to open a fourth mill in Old Town in summer 2019. ND Paper and its parent company are committed to the environment and is implementing processes to ensure every aspect of production, from sourcing to manufacturing to distribution, is environmentally friendly.

The purchase has given new life to the mill in Rumford and its 650 employees. The mill continues to diversify its products in growing markets like gift wrap, corporate periodicals, and labels for cans, bottles and deli containers.

The Old Town mill, which has been shuttered since 2015, is set to come back online this summer and provide 130 direct jobs.

ND Paper is grateful for this recognition and committed to making a difference in Maine now and for the next 100 years!