AHEC 13th Southeast Asia & Greater China Convention held in Vietnam

????AHEC 13th Southeast Asia and Greater China Convention was held on June 19 in HCMC, Vietnam.

????The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) has returned to Vietnam for its 13th Southeast Asia and Greater China Convention. The choice is significant, given the huge potential industrial growth that the country offers in a world of uncertainty.

????AHEC is continuing its policy of cooperation with local and professional organisations in the development of wood consuming industries. Vietnam is heavily dependent on wood imports and U.S. exports of hardwoods have been climbing sharply in recent years based upon the sustainability and suitability of American supplies. Imports of American hardwoods in Vietnam are running at a level of $100 million per annum and the latest data will be presented at the Convention. About thirty US export companies attended the convention to network with hundreds of delegates from all over Asia. Speaking recently on a pre-conference visit to Saigon, AHEC??s regional Director John Chan, said ??Vietnam is our most important market in South East Asia and we have long worked with a number of organisations in furniture and design to improve their understanding of the wide range of American hardwoods. ??

????According to an official of HAA, most architects in HCMC lack of knowledge of US hardwood for interior design and architecture and they have concerns about the sustainability and the impact to the environment of using wood at all. ??The booming construction industry and property markets in Vietnam will boost the interior decoration and design industry which need to learn more of successful projects related to using wood for interiors elsewhere in Asia and overseas?? he said, adding that ??Vietnam will use more timber in the near future for furniture and interior decoration but before that needs to learn more about timber technology and design in wood??.

????Vietnam??s booming furniture industry with exports reaching US$2.5 billion in 2007 and around US$ 1 billion in the first four months of 2008 show an increase of 23% so far this year over the same period last year.

????The programme for this convention provides an opportunity to share the expertise of some of the most experienced designers in American hardwoods. It will also provide an opportunity to explore issues ranging from the economic value of using US hardwood and the impact to environment of using wood as well as providing detail on the sustainability of US hardwood. The Executive director from Washington DC, Mike Snow and AHEC Chairman Peter King both made their presentations. Illegal logging issues and their effect on the export of furniture will also be covered in terms of procurement risk policy and finally a key issue, of interest to all, is how US hardwood can add value to the furniture and interior design industries in Asia.

????Throughout the professions of architecture, interior design and furniture manufacture in Vietnam there is general agreement that improvement in design is the way forward, not only for export products but also for the fast growing domestic market and particularly the booming hospitality, leisure and tourism industries. Thus the theme of this convention ??US hardwood - sustainable and reliable resource for manufacturing and design?? is completely appropriate and timely. ??edited by 365f.com??