08 June 2015

Wood-Technology Conference was held in Opatija, Croatia.

As a central gathering of wood processing industry in Croatia and SEE Region, each year brings Wood-Technology Conference actual data on market trends in wood processing industry and forestry. Over 220 participants, representatives of production, trade, academy and institutional sector traditionally summarize situation in the wood processing industry and business trends and discuss proposals for further improvement of the circumstances for the following period. Leading companies, government officials from the ministries, representatives of EU institutions and professional associations participated in Opatija, as well as suppliers of technology, designers, leading economists and representatives of the banking sector that usually accompanies investments in this economic sector.
The Conference was organized under the auspices of Croatian Parliament and Ministry of Agriculture. Mr. Josip Leko, President of Croatian Parliament who pointed out that it is necessary to clearly articulate interests and stands of wood processing industry and to present them to the highest Croatian and EU authorities, opened the conference.
Josip Leko, President of Croatian Parliament Wood processing industry carries today's development of Croatia and this statement is supported by the fact that it participates with 10 percent in total Croatian export. This industry can help with the employment and the Croatian Government and Parliament recognize this fact by including it in the development strategy of Croatia. I expect that the Parliament will continue to receive the ideas from this branch, that the industry will find the arguments and that the Parliament will recognize them.
Also present were Mr. Patrizio Antonicoli, the secretary of European Confederation of Woodwoorking industries CEI BOIS, and Mr. Joze Mencinger, the Slovenian macroeconomist who talked about transition and EU perspectives. Several assistants ministers and other authority representatives from SEE Region also attended the Conference.
A few important meetings regarding wood processing industry were held over the past year in Croatian Parliament. Thematic meetings are part of lobbying activities organized by Croatian Wood Cluster. Those activities are necessary in order to improve the image and the status of wood processing industry in political circles that define the directions of development of this industry through legal frameworks. The results of these activities are visible and therefore it should be mentioned that during this year's Conference a meeting of Committee for Agriculture of Croatian Parliament is held and the main themes are rural development and EU funds. This year the main theme of the Conference is Application of the Innovations in Wood Processing Sector. Innovations are important part of European Agenda 2020, and wood processing sector has a good position in European strategic documents like Forestry Strategy. The application of smart specialisations becomes a dominant framework of the business and therefore the application of innovations on all level represents a basic way of how to survive on demanding European and world market. Subthemes of the Conference are: financing of innovations, technological possibilities and/or obstacles for the introduction of innovations, innovative technology, machines and tools, innovative processes etc.

For more information contact Mr Marijan Kavran, Director:

CROATIAN WOOD CLUSTER
Krsnjavoga 1
HR-10000 ZAGREB / Croatia
Tel +385 1 6329111 Fax +385 1 6329113
E-mail: mail@drvo-namjestaj.hr