VICTORIA – Forestry Innovation Investment Ltd. has released
its annual call for proposals to boost demand for B.C. wood products in
Asia-Pacific and other key markets, Forests and Range Minister Pat Bell
announced today.
“More
than 80 per cent of B.C. wood products are sold outside Canada,” Bell
said. “With the downturn in the United States,
it is more important than ever to promote B.C. wood products aggressively in
overseas markets, particularly China.”
Forestry
Innovation Investment, the international forest-products marketing agency for
the Province of British Columbia, is providing $11.5
million for market and product development and research. Industry and federal
contributions are expected to increase total spending to more than $27 million
in 2009/10. The Province, in partnership with the forest industry and federal
government, has been working for several years to diversify and broaden
international demand for B.C. forest products.
Asian
markets have grown rapidly and continue to show the most potential. Sales to China more than
doubled in 2007 over the previous year and from January to September 2008 have
already surpassed the volume sold in all of 2007. South Korea is also a growing
market for B.C. where sales lumber sales increased 73 per cent in 2007, and
B.C. is the number one supplier with almost half of the import market.
“Last
month, I led a trade mission to China
where we saw how our marketing is working on the ground. One of the more
impressive results is the growing commercial use of wood truss systems to
renovate older apartment buildings in Shanghai,”
said Bell. “We
are now ready to build on these initial successes and further refine our
strategies and sell more B.C. lumber to China.”
Half
of Forestry Innovation Investment’s programming is based on activities proposed
by industry associations and other groups. Projects may focus on a specific
country, like China; a
single species, like Western Red Cedar; or a particular use, like wood-frame
housing in Japan.
Deadline for submissions is Jan. 26, 2009, with funding decisions expected to
be announced in early April.
As
part of today’s announcement, Forestry Innovation Investment issued a strategy
outlining priorities for market research and development, as well as procedures
for submitting proposals. Details are posted online at BC Bid www.bcbid.gov.bc.ca
and www.bcfii.ca.
-30-
