Indiawood 2006 attracts large international participation

US, Brazil, Taiwan, China, Japan sending delegations

Recognising the importance of Indiawood as a gateway to the country's fast growing wood industry, the US, Brazil, Taiwan, China and Japan will participate in a large way in the forthcoming 'Indiawood 2006'.

It is Asia's largest exposition on woodworking machinery, tools, fittings, accessories and raw materials, being held at the Palace Grounds in Bangalore from February 16-20.

The US through its American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), an association representing the hardwood exporters and major hardwood product trade associations and a Brazilian consortium of timber exporters will showcase their product range in 'Indiawood 2006'.

The Japanese, who traditionally looked at catering only to the domestic and the US market, are looking at making a foray into the Indian market with the exhibition.

Indiawood 2006 is being organised by the European Federation of Woodworking Machinery Manufacturers, a federation of 12 national associations of Europe with over 800 European manufacturers of machines and accessories for woodworking as its members.

The success of the Taiwanese woodworking machinery companies in the Indian market following their participation in the 2004 edition has prompted the Taiwan Woodworking Machinery Association and the Taiwan Association of Machinery Industries to double their size this year.

The Koreans, the Chinese and the Malaysians are also vying for a share of the Indian market by participating in the 2006 edition, said Pradeep Devaiah, chairman & CEO of PDA Trade Fairs, the co-sponsors of the event.

"We are excited about the entry of the US, Brazil, Japan, China and South Korea at the Indiawood 2006. The fair has generated so much interest both at home and abroad that newer exhibitors from hitherto unrepresented regions and segments are targetting the Indian market by participating in large numbers," he told Business Standard.

The woodworking industry in India is one of the fastest growing segments in the country's economy. Over 3,000 woodworking units have already mechanised and the number is growing.

There are over 1 lakh registered woodware units and over 2 lakh artisans in the organised sector with innumerable small businesses in the unorganised sector.

The woodworking industry's biggest event outside Europe, Indiawood, will facilitate the burgeoning growth in the ASEAN woodworking industry by providing a platform for woodworking industries, woodworkers, wood processing industries and other industry majors to meet, source the latest high technology products and gather information on the developments in the industry.