Chile Hopes to Become World's Second Largest Timber Exporter
COPYRIGHT 2000 XINHUA NEWS AGENCY
November 23, 2000
SANTIAGO, November 22 - The Chilean forestry industry will increase its investments in the next 10 years to become the second largest timber exporter in the world, president of the Chilean Wood Corporation (Corma), Jose Latamendi, said Wednesday.
The chief of Chile's main forestry products industry association made the remark at the 5th International Forest, Cellulose and Paper Fair, which opened in the Chilean city of Concepcion Wednesday.
Latamendi said that annual investments in the country's forestry industry should surpass 4 billion U.S. dollars, and the export value of forestry products is expected to reach 4.5 billion dollars by 2010.
Latamendi added that it's important to approve the Native Forest Law as soon as possible in order to solve some problems in the Chilean forestry industry.
The Corma president also emphasized the necessity to enhance infrastructure investments in the construction of modern ports, and stated that some years ago the lack of ports gravely affected the country's forestry exports.
Some 325 enterprises from 35 countries attended the fair, which is scheduled to end Saturday.
Indonesia is currently the world's largest timber exporter.