The International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Forestry, Lands and Natural Resources of Ghana are convening an international conference on Promotion of Intra-African Trade in Timber and Timber Products from 30 June to 2 July 2009 at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra, Ghana.

For update information and the provisional agenda please check ITTO's website

Objectives
(1)    An overview of the current level of the intra-African market for tropical timber and timber products (TTP) particularly in relation to products traded, their quality, price, and end uses;

(2)    An overview and analysis of the nature and trends of supply and availability of tropical timber and timber products in ITTO member countries in Africa in terms of quality, quantity, price and potential end uses;

(3)    Overview and analysis of the nature and trends of demand for tropical timber and timber products in ITTO member countries in Africa and other major markets in Africa, in particular in countries neighboring ITTO producing member countries in Africa and the Northern and Southern parts of Africa;

(4)   Identification and analysis of constraints to the expansion of the intra-African market for tropical timber and timber products, as well as options to overcome the constraints and key players who could help remove those constraints;

(5)    Concrete proposals to promote the intra-African market for TTPs, including the formulation of practical measures that could be implemented in the short, medium and long term period; and

(6)   Identification and analysis of regional initiatives that could be considered in order to build cooperation and synergies with a view to promoting the intra-Africa market for timber and timber products.

Who will attend
This conference will bring together a wide range of stakeholders, including senior executives from major forest products companies, private and public sector financial institutions, forest product market development agencies, customs authorities, chamber of commerce and leading forestry and conservation agencies from around the world to facilitate information exchange and identify mechanisms for the promotion of intra-African trade in timber and timber products.

Venue
The conference will be convened at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra, Ghana. It is located only 10 minutes away from Ghana’s main airport, the Kotoka International Airport in Accra, and 15 minutes away from the Accra city centre.

Contact
ITTO Secretariat,
Email: ahadome@itto.or.jp
Fax: +81 45 223 1111
Tel: +81 45 223 1110