April 2005

Changing International Markets for Timber: What African Producers can do

27 April 2005

The UK Timber Trade Federation (TTF) and Inter-African Forest Industries Association (IFIA) have joined forces to implement a programme of market research and trade forums to communicate changes in requirements for legal and sustainable timber.  African exporters face many challenges meeting international market requirements, but new EU legislation  and public and private sector purchasing policies are now combining to require legal and sustainable timber.  This new demand is resulting in measurable price premiums for verified legal and sustainable hardwood . 

With funds from the UK Department for International Development TTF and IFIA has commissioned a series of reports on international and European markets by market specialists, and is now organising a series of Trade Forums in four African producer countries. 

The programme timetable is as follows:

Ghana (Kumasi) – 17th and 18th May 2005
Cameroon (Douala) – 24th and 25th May 2005
Gabon (Libreville) – 29th and 30th June 2005
Congo-B (Brazzaville) – 5th and 6th July 2005

The programme will conclude with a conference in Brussels in October in close cooperation with the European Commission and UK EU Presidency.

The Forums will consist of one-day of formal presentations and discussions of the changing markets and how to meet their requirements followed by a day of business-to-business networking and informal meetings, concluding with a press conference. 

EU traders and industry representatives are welcome to join any of the above meetings, and should register interest with Christina Connolly of IFIA (ifia@wanadoo.fr), Andy Roby of TTF (ajroby@ttf.co.uk) or Emily Fripp, lead consultant (emily.fripp@btinternet.com).