A delegation of 16 high profile companies meet potential clientele for expansion possibilities in wood trade from Canada to India

With a view to exploring the possibilities of expansion in the Indo-Canada wood trade, a business delegation visited Bengaluru & Mysore. The delegation held meetings with important members of the wood & woodworking industry and discussed ways and means to increase import of wood from British Columbia, Canada to India.

The 22 member delegation comprised of senior management from large solid wood lumber producing companies such as Canfor, West Fraser; industry associations such as Coast Forest Products Association, Natural Resources Canada; and provincial & federal government representatives.

With the support of FII India – market development agency for Canadian Wood – the delegation met with leading manufacturers, developers and architects to discuss collaboration opportunities under the Canadian marque.

The mission helped importers and specifiers procure sustainable, certified wood (PEFC/FSC) from the province of British Columbia. Species of Western Hemlock, Douglas-fir, SPF, Western Red Cedar and Yellow-Cedar can be extensively used in manufacture of doors, door jams, windows, furniture, panelling, outdoor uses such as pergolas, gazebos and turnkey projects involving use of wood in interiors, outdoors and structural usage.

To bring forth the versatility and aesthetics of Canadian Wood, FII India with B.C.

companies created experience zones at IndiaWood 2016, the largest wood tradeshow in the country.

· Outdoor: A life size gazebo made of Western Red Cedar was installed on-site to give visitors a glimpse of what’s in store within the arena.
· Canada Pavilion: A customized 126 sq.m booth featured interactive audio-visual kiosks, actual product applications created by Indian manufacturers and a lumber wall featuring various wood grades & sizes.
· Informational seminar: Peter Bradfield, Technical Advisor – FII India conducted an interactive seminar on use of wood in architecture to a group of 120 practicing architects from across the country.

Talking about the mission, Mr. Pranesh Chhibber, Country Director, FII India said, “This is great platform to provide solutions to the Indian timber and wood working industry and address their unique challenges through certified lumber from sustainably managed sources in Canada. Accordingly the conversation around the need for timber such as Canadian Wood has been extremely positive as a long term solution for a better tomorrow by the wood working industry.”