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The American Hardwood
Export Council has announced the programme
for its 13th European Convention
to be held in Barcelona on 26th-28th
October. Under the heading of “Making
American Hardwoods Work in Europe”,
AHEC is drawing on the need to
examine in detail the advantages and
challenges for American hardwoods in today’s
European market.
Seventeen years after the opening of the
AHEC office in London and thirteen years
after the first convention held in London,
this will be the last of the current series
of conventions in Western Europe. AHEC is
planning alternative events in 2006 in
important developing markets in
Eastern
Europe and central Asia, before returning to
Western
Europe in 2007 with a new format.
This next convention in Barcelona is seen by
AHEC as a vital opportunity to examine with
the European hardwood trade and major
manufacturers,
the way forward for AHEC’s technical and
promotional programmes.
The scene will be set with three speakers
on:
“World economies and
their impact on European wood markets”
Lynn Michaelis,
Weyerhaeuser, USA
“The global trade in American hardwoods”
Michael Snow, AHEC
Washington DC
“How can U.S. hardwoods meet the needs of
today’s European buyer?"
Michael Buckley, World
Hardwoods, UK
In a completely new
programme initiative,
the speakers and delegates will “Face the
Press”. Questions will be put by the
international trade press corps who have
loyally attended and reported the last
twelve AHEC conventions. The final morning
will commence with a presentation on trade
flows of American hardwood in EU markets by
Duncan King from AHEC Europe, and will then
hear a series of country reports from some
key markets.
“We are looking forward to a mature and
honest debate” says David Venables,
AHEC’s European Director, when referring to
this open challenge to the speakers and
convention delegates.
The event will be held in the first class
conference facilities of the Hotel Princesa
Sofia in central Barcelona, and will open
with a buffet reception on the evening of
Wednesday 26th October. The
programme runs from Thursday 27th
October through to lunchtime on Friday 28th
October and will include a Gala Dinner.
Registration forms can be
obtained from
www.ahec-europe.org
or by contacting AHEC’s
London office at
lucy.peacock@ahec.co.uk or Tel: 44
(0)207 626 4111. |
