The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), the leading international trade association for the American hardwood industry, has sucessfully hosted its 'Designing & Working with American Hardwoods' seminar in Dubai last night (September 26, 2010) at the Park Hyatt Hotel. Attended by leading architects and interior designers in the UAE, the high-impact event highlighted the wide variety of American hardwood species, their environmental credentials, as well as their importance in sustainable design. As one of the event's major highlights, participants have taken part in a practical demonstration of the grading rules for North American hardwoods, which form the basis of every successful transaction.
Speaking at the opening of the seminar, Jude Akhidenor, Regional Director, Agricultural Trade Office, U.S. Consulate General, said: "The steady growth of the UAE market is a positive market indicator that is driving activity among hardwood customers, manufacturers and all other industry players involved in wood trade. The impending uptrend in the regional wood industry makes this seminar even more important by providing the latest information on the industry's global standards, trends and norms. I would like to congratulate AHEC on the success of this initiative."
The event centred around two key presentations, given by Criswell Davis, Sustainable Hardwood Design Consultant, and Bob Sabistina, Hardwood Technical Consultant. Davis provided architects, interior designers, and furniture, flooring and joinery manufacturers with in-depth information on U.S. hardwood, including their wide variety and commercial availability, and the potential they offer for design and end use in the Middle East. Sabistina delivered an introduction to the grading of American hardwood lumber according to the National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA) rules, which was followed by a practical demonstration.
Farida Al Awadhi, President of the Association of Professional Interior Designers (APID), added, "The seminar offered an excellent opportunity for interior designers and other industry professionals to gain a more in-depth understanding of the unique characteristics and advantages of American hardwoods. Full audience participation in the activities also brought a unique opportunity for anyone coming into contact with wood products to learn about American hardwoods first hand from industry experts, and we are glad to have partnered with AHEC on this initiative. Looking ahead, I believe that similar seminars must be given to students of interior design, as they provide the opportunity to know the latest on wood products and processes."
In the MENA region, significant increases in demand for U.S. hardwood lumber are being monitored, with red oak being the most sought-after species. With a total export volume of 11,298 cu. metres in the first six months of 2010, red oak shipments to the region have grown by 18 per cent as compared to the same period last year. Among the regional markets, the UAE is demonstrating renewed and steadily increasing interest for U.S. hardwoods, with import figures reaching USD 4.3 million from January to June 2010. The figures are up by 84 per cent from the USD 2.3 million recorded for the same time period in 2009, thereby underlining the UAE's position as one of the top American hardwood importers. In line with this, AHEC is seeking to tap into the burgeoning opportunities within the domestic interiors, furniture, flooring, kitchen cabinets, doors and internal joinery markets.
"The various activities we have prepared as part of the seminar were specifically designed to generate awareness and knowledge of American hardwoods, and I am confident of the major impact they will have on the capacity of companies who participated to adhere to global industry standards. We would like to thank everyone who has taken part in this successful endeavour, and we are looking forward to a stronger symbiosis between AHEC, our member companies and hardwood customers and traders across the UAE," concluded Roderick Wiles, AHEC Director for Africa, Middle East, India and Oceania.
