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NEWS RELEASE
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For Immediate Release June 24, 2010 |
Ministry of Forests and Range
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OVER $9 MILLION SET TO DIVERSIFY FOREST PRODUCT MARKETS
VICTORIA – B.C. is investing $9.2 million to promote sales of the province’s forest products in major markets like China, Forests and Range Minister Pat Bell announced today.
“International sales keep our sawmills running and our forest workers employed,” said Bell. “Diversifying our markets for wood products is one of the best ways to strengthen the industry.”
The funding includes $8.3 million for market development in key Asia Pacific countries including China, Japan and Korea and maintaining markets in Europe and North America. In addition, $900,000 is targeted to the Business Innovation Program, which provides business development services to the value-added sector.
Internationally, B.C. wood is marketed as high quality from sustainably managed forests, while B.C.’s advanced wood technology is positioned as providing innovative solutions to residential, commercial and public building design and construction.
“It is important to show potential customers around the world how B.C. wood products can meet their unique needs,” said Bell. “Our marketing activities help us to target on what international customers want – whether it’s seismic strength in Japan, cost-effectiveness in China, or sustainability in Europe.”
Funds are being distributed through Forestry Innovation Investment (FII), the provincial Crown agency responsible for developing and diversifying markets for British Columbia forest products. Industry and the federal Canada Wood Export Program will add another $16.2 million to the marketing program, for a total marketing effort of $25.4 million.
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A backgrounder follows.
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Media Contact:
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Cheekwan Ho Public Affairs Officer Ministry of Forests and Range 250 387-8482 |
For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca.
BACKGROUNDER
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For Immediate Release June 24, 2010 |
Ministry of Forests and Range
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FII MARKET DEVELOPMENT FUNDING 2010/11
Forestry Innovation Investment (FII) uses an annual, competitive request-for-proposal process to receive submissions and award market development funding. Applications received in response to the 2010-11 call for proposals were reviewed and scored by a 14-member evaluation panel, with representatives from the forest industry, academia and federal and provincial governments.
B.C. Shake and Shingle Association - $28,490
· Promote B.C.’s western red cedar roofing and siding products in the U.K. and France.
· Introduce alternative species into the U.S. market.
BC Wood Specialties Group - $698,000
· Link potential domestic buyers as well as buyers in Japan, South Korea, China, and the United States with B.C. value-added producers (e.g. log homes, millwork, furniture, and engineered wood products).
· Host the seventh annual Global Buyers Mission in Whistler to connect over 200 international buyers, from up to 20 countries, with over 80 B.C. value-added wood product manufacturers.
Business Innovation Partnership - $900,000
· The partnership (BC Wood Specialties Group, FPInnovations-Forintek Division, and UBC’s Centre for Advanced Wood Processing) will provide business development, marketing and technology transfer services to companies in the value-added wood products sector.
Canada Wood Group - $4.1 million
· Support a Canada Wood market development team with representatives in four key export markets: China, Japan, Korea and Europe.
· Monitor and address phyto-sanitary concerns and product acceptance issues in key international markets for B.C. wood products.
· Demonstrate the superior strength and seismic performance of B.C. forest products for the Japanese post and beam and institutional housing sectors.
· Partner with in-market associations to deliver wood-frame construction designer and builder training in South Korea.
· Key objectives in the China market development effort:
o Provide quality assurance and design assistance to innovative wood-frame construction demonstration and earthquake re-construction projects.
o Establish a codes and standards framework that favours the use of B.C. wood products in the Chinese market.
o Increase the level of wood-frame construction quality through technology transfer and training for designers, builders and inspectors.
o Expand the use of B.C. wood products to include innovative uses such as hybrid building systems, in-fill walls, and multi-family/multi-storey and roof truss applications.
Canadian Wood Council – Wood WORKS! BC - $400,000
· Broaden wood awareness, convey creative yet practical wood design solutions, communicate sound wood construction practices, and instil wood sustainability attributes across a wide variety of stakeholders to increase the use of wood in non-residential construction.
· Build on the exposure generated by using wood in the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic venues, and support for implementation of the province’s Wood First initiative.
Coast Forest Products Association - $277,000
· Build on the superior performance of Coastal hemlock/fir in a recent multi-storey shake table test in Japan, and expand the use of “Canada Tsuga” into seismically sensitive applications in the Japanese post and beam and non-residential housing markets.
· Research niche markets in China and promote the use of hemlock/fir in tradeshows and seminars.
Council of Forest Industries - $516,000
· Promote the benefits of wood-frame construction to large builders and developers in South Korea.
· Continue the promotion of all species of B.C. wood in China through seminars, tradeshows, builder and consumer awareness activities and other promotional initiatives.
· Pursue new opportunities for SPF lumber in Japan and promote wood-frame construction in the Japanese non-residential sector through technical seminars and promotional activities.
APA – The Engineered Wood Products Association - $100,000
· Promote oriented strand board (OSB) and other structural panels for wood-frame construction through market develop activities in Japan.
Western Red Cedar Export Association - $263,000
· Targeted advertising and seminars to increase awareness and demand for Western Red Cedar products in Europe, China and Australia.
Western Red Cedar Lumber Association - $1.27 million
· Position western red cedar as an environmentally friendly and high-value choice for indoor and outdoor use in the U.S. market with an innovative electronic, print advertising and tradeshow strategy.
· Inform the Canadian architectural and design community about the virtues and characteristics of western red cedar.
Wood Products Council - $713,000
· Increase wood consumption within the U.S. market by convincing engineers, architects, general contractors, developers and others to consider wood use in non-residential building types.
· Program activities involve building code requirements, solving technical concerns and helping develop cost-effective wood solutions, and hosting Wood Solutions Fairs.
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Media Contact:
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Cheekwan Ho Public Affairs Officer Ministry of Forests and Range 250 387-8482 |
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