NORTHWEST FORESTRY LEVERAGES OLYMPIC OPPORTUNITY
VANCOUVER – Members of the Northwest British Columbia Forest Coalition are bringing their message to international markets and investors during the Olympic Winter Games, Forests and Range Minister Pat Bell announced today.
“We’re using the Games to showcase British Columbia as the world’s largest exporter of softwood forest products and reliable supplier of high-quality products,” said Bell. “As part of our business hosting strategy, we’re taking the opportunity to promote investment and job-creation throughout the province, including the tremendous fibre resource in the northwest.”
The Northwest BC Forest Coalition was formed in March 2009. The coalition brings together 11 forest licensees from Smithers to Prince Rupert, representing a potential timber supply of 2.7 million cubic metres per year, in a co-ordinated effort to attract manufacturing capacity and make better use of the underutilized fibre.
“Instead of continuing to compete against each other in a very limited market, we decided, with urging from Minister Bell, to pool our timber volumes to entice new investors,” said Elmer Derrick of Gitxsan Forest Enterprises Inc., and spokesperson for the coalition.
Working together, the forest licensees are able to create a more attractive investment opportunity by offering a larger, stable supply of hemlock, balsalm, cedar and spruce sawlogs and pulp logs.
