Marking the 25th anniversary of the Latvian Forest Industry Federation, Latvia will this year host the annual Nordic Wood Industry Forum, which will take place on 9 October. The forum will bring together forest sector representatives from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Sweden, Finland and Norway. This year's theme is the wood industry's role in strengthening European resilience, and during the event industry representatives from the six countries will sign a memorandum of understandingon their cooperation goals for the next five years.
The contribution made by Latvia's wood industry to the national economy is so large that it could cover two years of defence budgets. The proximity of Russia, however, is an unfavourable factor for investment and development. The forum will seek answers as to what the wood industry can do, and what state support is needed, in order to strengthen the economy — and with it independence and the defence capabilities of the state and society — in cooperation with like-minded colleagues in neighbouring countries. This includes how the sector can help ensure the secure supply of critically important materials, support civil protection and crisis preparedness measures, and cooperate in managing supply chain risks.
“The forest sector makes up a significant part of the Nordic and Baltic bioeconomy, directly employing more than 350,000 people. The sector offers a renewable, reusable and recyclable alternative to fossil resources, which reduces dependence on external raw materials, promotes economic security, the resilience of local economies and strategic independence, as well as prosperity and the development of rural areas. In 2024 the export value of our forest sector reached 3.44 billion euros, and such a substantial contribution to the economy is a strong foundation on which to build a secure future for Latvia and, working with like-minded partners and colleagues in neighbouring countries, for the region and Europe too. It is precisely this security dimension that we want to highlight at the forum,” says Artūrs Bukonts, Executive Director of the Latvian Forest Industry Federation.
The forum will be attended by representatives of the national wood industry organisations of Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Sweden, Norway and Finland, whose day-to-day work covers matters such as the environment and energy, forest and climate policy, the legal aspects of the forest sector and the sector's international relations with the European Union. Alongside a range of experts, Latvia will welcome its closest neighbours: Estonia's Managing Director of the Estonian Forest and Wood Industries Association, Henrik Välja, and the Chairman of the Lithuanian Forest and Land Owners Association, Algis Gaižutis. Norway will be represented by the head of the Norwegian Wood Industry Federation, Heidi Finstad, Sweden by the Director General of the Swedish Forest Industries, Viveka Beckeman, and Finland by the Director General of the Finnish Forest Industries Federation, Paula Lehtomäki.
Also taking part in the forum will be Latvia's Minister of Agriculture Armands Krauze, Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Artjoms Uršuļskis, Director of the Forest Department of the Ministry of Agriculture Āris Jansons and Uldis Biķis, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of AS “Latvijas Finieris”, along with representatives of the Latvian Forest Industry Federation.
On 10 October the forum participants will together visit the “Zābaki” tree nursery, where they will see the newly opened timber building complex — unique in the Baltics — including the seedling cold store, a facility where forest seedlings are kept at a reduced temperature to preserve their viability and quality before sowing out or planting.
About the Latvian Forest Industry Federation
Since 2000, associations of Latvian forest sector companies have come together in the Latvian Forest Industry Federation. Its aim is to promote the development of Latvia's forest sector in cooperation with interested institutions, to create a sustainable, stable economic environment for the development and increased competitiveness of forest sector companies, and to ensure international representation of Latvian wood industry interests as well as the development and coordination of the associations' activities. The Latvian Forest Industry Federation represents the leading forest sector non-governmental organisations in Latvia: the Latvian Loggers Union, the Latvian Independent Loggers Association, the Latvian Biomass Association, the Latvian Association of Wood Processing Entrepreneurs and Exporters, the association “Latvijas Koks”, the Latvian Association of Timber Producers and Traders, the Furniture Manufacturers Association in Latvia and the Latvian Wood Construction Cluster.