AGEXPORT’s Furniture and Wood Products Commission presented its newest project “MADEXPORTA” in Peten on April 3^rd, 2019, which seeks to train forestry companies to comply legal requirements, learn good governance measures, understand European Union regulations and other key information to access new markets. This project had the support of the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization and the European Union.

A total of 39 forestry companies from Peten shown interest in seeking trade opportunities in the European Union. The event is scheduled also to take place in Coban (Alta Verapaz department) on April 10^th and in Guatemala City on May 2^nd.

We focused on explaining the attendees three of the 30 recommendation made by the author for forestry businesses: 1) Prepare for an increasing demand of wood products for construction activities, especially doors and floors; 2) focus on niches with high added-value (mid and high segments) and buyers that appreciate special designs, long-lasting wood species, sustainability certifications and hand-made quality; and 3) an increasing number of small companies processing wood that would require the supply of raw materials and open opportunities for forestry firms; said Mrs. Rosa Maria Monzón, coordinator of AGEXPORT’s Furniture and Wood Products Commission.

The Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) is an initiative started by the European Union as a response to increasing concerns on the negative impacts of illegal forestry activities and wood exports.

Our alliance established as Furniture and Wood Products Commission with the European Union and the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) will allow us to promote the production and consumption of certified woods and reduce illegal forestry activities. This also helps the achievement of the world’s Sustainable Development Goals on poverty and climate change. During our event, we are also promoting a special Trade Markets platform developed by the Forestry Institute (INAB, for its acronym in Spanish), which will help our businessmen to be officially registered as forestry companies, said Mrs. Monzón.

Andrea Vides
Guatemalteca, periodista desde hace 9 años. Apasionada por la comunicación. @avides_vgt