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BC Wood Group hosts 380 buyers from 18 countries

The Global Buyers Mission is Canada’s largest and most important wood show for sellers and buyers of value-added wood products. More than 380 buyers and specifiers of wood products from 18 countries will join 300 manufacturers attending the 2017 GBM.

Each year the show generates about $35 million in new direct sales, but according to BC Wood CEO Brian Hawrysh, “the larger benefit lies in the number of quality leads and relationships fostered for future sales, as well as the time and money saved by smaller firms who lack the critical mass to market overseas.” In addition to India, Pakistan, the Philippines and Vietnam, sizable delegations are attending from China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Jordan, the European Union, Mexico and the United States. And market diversification for BC’s forest products has never been more important with the U.S. softwood lumber dispute again threating to punish wood exporters to the U.S.

In conjunction with the GBM, BC Wood is once again hosting the popular WoodTALKS event for architects, designers, developers, public officials and other wood specifiers. WoodTALKS is designed to inspire and inform on the use of wood in design and construction.

Finally, dozens of attendees will be participating in the GBM’s extended-mission program to see how value-added wood products are made and used, and lay the foundation for future business relationships. This includes tours of Coastal and Interior production facilities as well as large-scale mass-timber buildings.

Developed and managed by BC Wood, the GBM is supported by funding from government, industry and attending delegates. The government supporters include BC’s Forestry Innovation Investment and the Government of Canada; both Natural Resources Canada and the Ministry of International Trade.

Founded in 1989, BC Wood is a nonprofit trade association representing BC’s value-added wood product manufacturers. Members produce millwork, furniture, cabinets, special lumber products, log and timber frame construction, pre-built structures and engineered wood products. Collectively, the sector represents about 600 companies employing 15,000 people in BC with more than $3.8 billion in annual sales. BC Wood assists their members by addressing key market barriers, providing market intelligence and engaging in market development activities in BC and around the world. www.bcwood.com