THE Dubai WoodShow, to be held this month, will discuss matters related to the legalising of the global trade in timber products, among other issues involving the wood industry.

Present at the seminars staged at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre from April 8 to 10 will be government representatives from the UAE and the region

The event is being held against the backdrop of several countries adopting stringent measures to license trading in timber products from the start of the year, said a statement from the organisers Strategic Marketing and Exhibitions.

Walid Farghal, director general, said: “Currently no timber products can enter Europe, Australia and US, which are considered major markets for these products, without certification.”

More countries will enforce these measures to regulate timber trading, he said.

The industry is also growing in the UAE mainly with the boom in the real estate and contracting sectors, he added. “Many wood traders have started to validate the certification of legal timber imported in their countries. This trend will spread globally until we reach a worldwide system to regulate the timber trade,” Farghal said.

The Dubai WoodShow has attracted 500 exhibitors from 40 countries this year.