Under Economic Action Plans 2012 and 2013, the Government of Canada announced $197 million, over four years (2012–13 to 2015–16), to help the forest industry innovate, diversify and expand markets.
Through this investment, the Expanding Market Opportunities Program supports diversifying markets for Canadian forest products by addressing opportunities and obstacles in both offshore and North American markets.
The program helps Canadian wood producers diversify and expand export opportunities for their products in traditional and emerging overseas markets, including Europe, Japan, China, South Korea, India and the Middle East. It is also supporting market expansion domestically through activities that accelerate the acceptance of Canadian building codes and products, training and quality control.
Projects funded under this initiative are cost-shared with industry and other partners, with Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) providing up to 50 percent of eligible project costs.
In Mumbai, the FII India market development office is enabling Canada to further explore opportunities to expand its forest product trade with India. For example, several small-scale product trials are demonstrating that Canadian wood-based furniture, doors and windows are well-suited to the Indian market. This initiative is jointly funded by NRCan with the Government of British Columbia (BC Forestry Innovation Investment Ltd.).
In Asia, the Expanding Market Opportunities Program has been instrumental in meeting the growing demand for wood products over the past several years. For example, China is now the fastest-growing market for Canadian wood products. Between 2007 and 2012, softwood lumber shipments to China have risen almost 1,000%, with British Columbia now selling about a quarter of its softwood lumber to China. Softwood lumber shipments to China in the first 10 months of 2013 were more than 7% ahead of the 2012 pace in terms of volume and more than 35% ahead on a value basis.
The Government’s commitment to funding effective programs such as these enables Natural Resources Canada to continue working with the forest sector in support of its ongoing transformation and further developing markets for Canadian forest products.
For more information on the Expanding Market Opportunity Program, visit: http://cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/pages/379.
Melissa Lantsman
Director of Communications
Office of Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources
613-996-2007
Or:
Media Relations
Natural Resources Canada
Ottawa
613-992-4447
