EVENTS
Global wood industry
gathers in Gabon
The second edition of the Gabon Wood, Woodworking Machinery
and Forestry Show takes place from 24 to 26 June 2019 in
Libreville, Gabon.
T
he exhibition, organised in partnership with Gabon Special Economic Zone based
out of Libreville, is a business entity in partnership between Olam International
and the Gabonese government.
Gabon is a bustling business hub with rapid development and expansion and is the
ideal place for the global wood industry to meet. The exhibition showcases the latest
products and innovation in the wood and forestry industry in the region.
The West and Central Africa regions are important producers of wood products and
production is highly dominated by the industrial round wood (mainly the production of
sawn wood and wooden-based panels). Historically, countries in this region are log
exporters.
The timber trade in the West and Central Africa regions is influenced by local,
regional and overseas demand with Europe an important market for the major
producing countries. Much of the demand for wood products in the region is for
rough-sawn and low-grade timber used in construction and joineries within
regional markets.
The Gabon Wood Show takes
place later this month in
Gabon’s capital, Libreville.
Developing into a
high-value forest nation
The UK is the second largest importer of sawn wood in the world
(after China) and, with global demand for timber set to treble in
future, the case for increasing UK production is overwhelming.
T
he WoodBUILD 2019 conference and expo takes place
on 26 June 2019 at Reichel Hall, Bangor, Wales in the UK.
The expo will explore the features of a high-value
forest nation and how Wales will achieve this. Speakers will
address the new products and construction solutions that
are driving an exciting new era of timber construction and
forest science.
The expansion of forestry is a win-win situation, with the
self-evident economic and employment benefits supported
by substantial climate change mitigation and the provision
of a low-carbon resource for construction.
14 JUNE / JULY 2019 //
“Timber’s popularity continues to grow, but now more than
ever we need to look further at developing the home-grown
timber supply chain, planting more forests, growing for
quality, building more efficiently, developing local
manufacturing and critically taking positive steps to
protect our future. The opportunities are substantial
and compelling,” says Gary Newman from
Woodknowledge Wales.
This stimulating one-day conference and expo will bring
together people and organisations involved in building the
supply chain from forest to finished home.
www.timberiq.co.za