Business & Money | Monday 22 April, 2019 3:42 pm |

• Consistent double-digit increase in the sector for the past years
• Higher trade volume anticipated with GCC and the Middle East
• Gabon WoodShow in support of sustainable logging

 Wood industry in Gabon remains to enjoy a positive and healthy outlook as the country pushes for higher trade volume with emerging economies as the demand for wood is anticipated to increase. This insight is supported by the second edition of Gabon WoodShow, the premier global platform for wood, woodworking machinery and forestry industry.

The second edition of Gabon WoodShow gears up to host local and international exhibitors on 24-26 June 2019 at the Jardin Botanique, Libreville, Gabon. Gabon WoodShow will be held in partnership with the Gabonese government under the patronage of H.E. Ali Bongo Ondimba, Gabon President, and the Gabon Special Economic Zone (GSEZ), a hub for timber processing industries.

This year’s Gabon WoodShow will host an international exhibition where wood, woodworking machinery and forestry professionals will have the opportunity to maximize at least 5000sq.m exhibition space to feature their latest products and innovation to thousands of specialized visitors. As part of last year’s successful staging of Gabon WoodShow, the current edition anticipates to achieve higher values in transactions over the course of three days.

One of the unique strengths of Gabon WoodShow is its effective platform to link opportunities among industry stakeholders. Participants can widen their network and find new business prospects against the backdrop of a competitive timber market for the next coming years. Thus, Gabon WoodShow remains to stand as a staging point to secure significant business collaboration and partnership onsite between manufacturers and buyers.

Gabon is also a strategic venue for the global event with its proximity to Europe. With Siberia’s looming deficit on wood supplies within the next couple of decades, Gabon’s sustainable forestry which covers 85% of its land area, will position the country to attract more businesses with continuous supply of timber, specifically okume with 90% of its export trade originating from Gabon.

Part of Gabon’s economic diversification plan is to promote a non-oil dependent economy through forestry. Thus, with President’s Ondimba’s leadership, initiatives to promote, strengthen, and sustain the economic gains of forestry are supported, including efforts to promote Gabon as the world’s premier destination for timber products through the establishment of Gabon Special Economic Zone. GSEZ produces around 400,000 square meters of round logs every year.

Around 400 species of trees are grown in Gabon, 100 of which are suitable for industrial use and can cater to world’s timber requirements without endangering its protected forestry sections. Aside from Okume, other wood varieties that Gabon is exporting are Keva, Beli, Ebiara, Ovangkol, Dibetou, Padouk, Doussie, Bilinga, Azobe, Acajou, Bosse, Dabema, Iroko, Izombe, Movingui, Niangon, Omvong, Ekoune, Okan, Pachyloba, Paorosa, Sapelli, Sipo, Tali, Tiama, Wenge, Gheombi, and Andoung. These varieties are being exported to South Africa, Europe, Middle East and China.

Walid Al Farghal, Director General of the Organizing Committee for Gabon WoodShow, said, “Gabon poses a huge and substantial potential to cater to the global demand for timber. Thus, Gabon WoodShow is being staged as a special hub for stakeholders where regional and international buyers can participate and do business, while keeping in mind that Gabon WoodShow is conscious of the government’s stance to be socially and environmentally responsible to allow many Gabonese generations to enjoy the economic benefits derived from their forestry industry.”

Gabon WoodShow 2019 will have major local exhibitors as well as exhibitors from France, Italy, Belgium, Germany, Spain, China, India, Cameroon and Democratic Republic of Congo.

Aside from the international exhibition, Gabon WoodShow will also host a Gala Dinner to honour individuals and organizations for their support and contribution to the growth of timber industry in Gabon.

For interest to exhibit, book your stand online via www.gabonwoodshow.com. Brochures can also be downloaded from the website. For inquiries, send email to info@gabonwoodshow.com. ###

note:

Gabon WoodShow will hold its second edition on 24-26 June 2019 at the Jardin Botanique, Libreville, Gabon.

The event is a part of WoodShow series which are also being held in Cairo and in Dubai.

Gabon WoodShow is being organized in partnership with the Gabonese government and the Gabon Special Economic Zone (GSEZ).