A major initiative to encourage European investment in African timber is taking place place in Libreville, Gabon in January 2004.
Race Wood 2004 is jointly organised by the Inter African Forest Industries Association (IAFIA) and Pro€invest, a new EU programme to encourage investment in African, Caribbean and Pacific coun-tries.
Race Wood will include a timber sector exhibition fea-turing companies involved in timber and timber products. These will be principally fin-ger-jointing, garden furniture, glulam, industrial joinery, in-terior and exterior fittings, interior and garden furniture, mouldings, panelling plywood and wood flooring.
Participants will come from Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, the Democ-ratic Republic of Congo, Ga-bon, Equatorial Guinea and the Republic of Congo. All exhibitors will have to employ more than five people and have turnover of at least €250,000 a year. They will also have to prove that they have been in profit for two years and that they source timber from sustainable, well-managed forestry.
The event will give European companies that want to invest in Africa or establish other trading relationships with Af-rican firms the opportunity to meet management and discuss the opportunities in the region.
Pro€invest is principally looking for small- to medium-sized European businesses to participate, but says it will also consider “larger groups or consortia”. The cost for participants is €1,500 per company.
Race Wood, which takes place from January 21-23, will also include presentations by the various African countries on their industrial activity and infrastructure and also workshops on topics including sustainable forestry practice, certification and “valorization of new timber species”.
