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Calculations by Latvijas Banka experts show that currently, firewood, roundwood and sawn timber account for more than half (53%) of all wood product exports. The next highest proportion is in Estonia (28%), but that is almost half as much as in Latvia. Nowadays, we should not be proud of exporting low-complexity wood products from the country. Moreover, the forestry sector is currently going through a difficult and uncertain time, largely influenced by serious challenges in global timber markets. In such circumstances, the question of how to escape the raw material country trap and use the resources available in Latvia as smartly and effectively as possible becomes particularly relevant.