Canada Wood China hosted Shipper’s meeting in Shanghai
On May 14th, Canada Wood China (CW China) hosted a Lumber Shipper’s Meeting in Shanghai to update industry stakeholders on 2020-2021 program priorities, and to discuss recent trends in the lumber industry in China. Eric Wong, Managing Director of CW China emphasized that the strategy for the year ahead is on moving up the value chain by fostering innovation of new building applications, creating new demand for existing applications, and positioning Canadian wood in the manufacturing sector.
Jim Wang and Alex Wu from the Business Development team of CW China updated participants on their work with Industrial Construction (IC) and Wood in Manufacturing (WiM). The team laid out their plans for events to engage new markets across China to promote wood applications, with seminars and events planned for Zhejiang, Chongqing, Fujian, Shandong, Jiangxi, Guangdong, Anhui, Jiangsu, Sichuan, Guizhou and Tianjin.
The CW China team also shared highlights from two recent surveys, with the “Report on Development Trends of Real Estate Enterprises in China” and the “’Try Canadian Wood’ Campaign Feedback Survey Report”. The real estate report took a broad look at how the market is impacted by macro economic factors and major policies. It analyzed the impact of key policies and regional development trends, with a focus on the recognition and use of wooden structures. The survey is part of the WIM’s sector program to gather feedback on promotional efforts regarding the use of Canadian wood in furniture production and related applications. Feedback was gathered from companies that have completed the product trial to better understand the position of Canadian wood in various aspects from the manufacturers’ perspective.
In addition to presentations given by the team at CW China, Jean-Christian Brillant, Deputy Consul General and Senior Trade Commissioner from the Consulate General of Canada in Shanghai gave an update on bilateral trade relations and Li Yan, GM of Green Garden shared his perspectives on the recent market trends for a local wood company operating in China.
With ongoing social distancing policies, the event was made available both online and offline. Presentations during the first half of the event were broadcast online, for the information to be shared with partners and contacts outside of Shanghai. Following the presentations, CW China hosted an offline roundtable discussion for participants to share their own experiences and perspectives on the impact of COVID-19 on operations, and business forecasts for the second half of 2020. The event was attended by Canadian wood exporters, Chinese wood industry companies, representatives of the Canada China Business Council and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, along with federal and provincial government partners from Canada.
If you would like a copy of the reports or presentations from this event, please contact [email protected]