Delegates of British Columbia (BC), Canada, has embarked on a forestry trade mission to Japan, seeking to increase market opportunities, meet with customers and partners, and encourage expanded use of BC wood products.
“Japan is a critically important export market for BC’s high-quality wood products, and we are excited to engage directly and strengthen relationships with our key customers and trading partners,” said Katrine Conroy, Minister of Forests for BC.
“Through BC’s global leadership and innovation in sustainable forestry and mass timber manufacturing, we have the opportunity to increase exports, given Japan’s focus on green building construction and wood use in public buildings. This will support good, well-paying jobs for people across the province.”
The five-day trade mission began on 6 Nov 2022, and Conroy, together with forest industry representatives, federal and provincial officials, and indigenous leaders attended events with the primary objectives of strengthening relationships, identifying new market opportunities, encouraging the use of BC wood products, and discussing evolving market opportunities and challenges.
According to the press release by BC, activities include touring the Tokyo University of the Arts nail-laminated timber demonstration project, which is the first example of an engineered spruce-pine-fir (SPF) nail-laminated timber floor system commercially adopted in Japan, witnessing the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Canada Wood and developer Seiwa Corporation on the joint development of tall midply, and more.
Bruce St. John, president of Canada Wood Group, commented: “Asia has made a commitment of building a net-zero future by recognising the use of low-carbon construction materials. By supporting innovative wood building systems in construction in China, Japan and Korea, Canada Wood is exporting Canadian low-carbon products and technology while maintaining the competitiveness of the Canadian forest industry.”
