Panels & Furniture Asia July/August 2020

8 | NEWS
July / August 2020, Issue 4 | Panels & Furniture Asia
BIFA WOOD VIETNAM POSTPONES TO 11 TO 13 MARCH 2021
ORIGINALLY scheduled to be held from
27 to 30 October 2020, BIFA WOOD
Vietnam has been postponed to 11 to
13 March 2021 due to the uncertainty
surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
The postponement seeks to protect the
safety and well-being of all exhibitors,
sponsors, delegates, trade attendees
and staff, as well as to allow key industry
players more time to participate.
BIFA WOOD Vietnam 2018 was a
resounding success, with 183 exhibitors
and 740 booths spreading across a
massive hall of 14,500 square metres.
The exhibition was attended by about
4,200 visitors seeking the latest
technologies and products in the furniture
manufacturing and woodworking sectors.
BIFA WOOD Vietnam is organised by two
of the most influential brands in South
East Asia’s timber and woodworking
sector – Binh Duong Furniture Association
(BIFA) and Panels & Furniture Asia Group
of wood magazines. P
FIRST VIETNAM SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT
CERTIFICATES GRANTED TO RUBBER FORESTS
THE first Vietnam Sustainable Forest
Management Certificates has been
granted to more than 11,400 hectares
of rubber forests under the management
of the Vietnam Rubber Group (VRG),
reported Nhan Dan Online.
The Vietnam Administration of Forestry
(VNFOREST) granted the certificates
to VRG companies, including the Binh
Long, Phu Rieng and Dau Tieng Rubber
Companies, at a ceremony held in Ho Chi
Minh City on 17 May.
The event also evaluated the coordination
results between VNFOREST and VRG in
implementing a project on sustainable
forest management and forest certification
back in 1 October 2018, to promote
the certification of sustainable forest
management in Vietnam.
Under the scheme, nearly 60,000ha of
rubber was set to be planted under the
sustainable forest management plan
which aimed to offer the Vietnam Forest
Certification Scheme (VFCS) certification
for six rubber processing factories.
EXPERT VALUE OF PROCESSED
RUBBER WOOD PRODUCTS:
US$2.5BN
Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister
of Agriculture and Rural Development Ha
Cong Tuan said that Vietnam has nearly
one million hectares of rubber forests,
generating between 3 to 3.5 million m 3
of raw materials from rubber wood every
year, while the export value of processed
products from rubber wood also reached
US$2.5bn. Therefore, rubber wood is also
an important and sustainable source of
raw materials for the wood processing
industry and exports of forest products.
Vietnam's Sustainable Forest Management
Certificate is important in promoting
the certification of sustainable forest
management and developing the market
for legal timber and "clean" raw materials
for Vietnam’s wood and forest product
processing industries and exports, Tuan said.
It is also an affirmation of the country’s
activeness in executing sustainable forest
management and forest certification,
especially since Vietnam's forest
certification system has been recognised
worldwide.
In 2020, VNFOREST and VRG will register
for sustainable forest management
certification for at least 50,000ha of
rubber. In addition, at least 15 training
courses will be organised on sustainable
forest management and product chain
management to enhance the capacity and
awareness of VRG companies.
A sustainable forest management plan
is set to be deployed by 10 rubber
companies under VRG. The group also
aims to register the VFCS certification for
15 wood processing enterprises under its
management. P
INDIA TO CONSIDER INVESTING US$10 TO $11 BILLION
TO BOOST DOMESTIC PRODUCTION OF FURNITURE
INDIA’S government is considering
proposals to invest US$16 to $17
billion to boost domestic production of
various consumer items, including
furniture, air conditioners and its
components, and leather footwear. This
is to reduce import dependence and
increase exports, other measures may
include duty hikes, reported Times of
India on 3 June.
Among the priority sectors that will be
receiving support from the government,
the furniture sector may receive one of the
largest amount of investment amounting
to US$10 to $11 billion to set up three to
four clusters or hubs near ports, that are
also close to the wood producing areas.
In recent years, India’s furniture market
size is worth US$10 to $12 billion, with
imports valued at US$1.5 to $2 billion.
Over 50% of imports come from China.
DUTY HIKES AND A NEW FORESTRY
POLICY
Duty hikes on wood products are also
being considered by the government, as
well as the long-term solution for a forestry
policy that supports the environment and
the economy, referring to Vietnam as a
successful example. P