Forum discusses promotion of legal, sustainable timber value chains
A forum took place in the southern province of Binh Duong on October 28 to discuss the promotion of legal and sustainable timber value chains in Vietnam.
Workers at Thuan An Wood Processing Joint Stock Company in Binh Duong province. (Photo: VNA)
Binh Duong (VNA) – A forum took place in the southern province of Binh Duong on October 28 to discuss the promotion of legal and sustainable timber value chains in Vietnam.
The event was held by the Vietnam Administration of Forestry (VAF) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the multi-party core group within the framework of the EU - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ). It welcomed 150 delegates from ministries, sectors, the EU Delegation to Vietnam, the German Embassy, research institutes, universities, and non-governmental organisations.
Pham Van Dien, VAF Deputy General Director, said Vietnam earned nearly 15 billion USD from timber and wood product exports in 2021 despite the COVID-19 pandemic, ranking second in Asia and fifth in the world.
Vietnam is striving to become one of the world’s leading centres for processing wood for export, noting that the country's export revenue is forecast to reach 25 billion USD by 2030.
Dien said to that end, more need to be done, including creating value chains from input material supply to export, and forming and operating a legal timber guarantee system in compliance with international commitments and agreements.
Oemar Idoe, Group Coordinator of GIZ's projects on environment, climate change and agriculture in Vietnam, said it is necessary to promote forest governance to facilitate timber origin tracing and sustainable timber trade.
To do so, sufficient resources are necessary for developing and maintaining IT infrastructure and enhancing essential capabilities. Digitalisation should be covered by the country’s budget to ensure supervision over timber trade and law enforcement, he added.
On the sidelines of the forum, an exhibition was held to introduce achievements in promoting legal timber and responsible timber trade by member organisations of the EVFTA’s core group and forestry stakeholders. It also provided participants with a chance to seek partnership opportunities./.
While many products exported to the UK enjoyed strong increases thanks to the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA), Vietnam’s timber industry is facing difficulties in expanding in this market, requiring manufacturers and exporters to change their business strategies.
The Centre for Sustainable Rural Development (SRD) and the Vietnam Administration of Forestry co-organised a forum on sustainable forest governance and timber trade monitoring in Hanoi on August 22.
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Due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and many European countries turning their backs on the supply of gas from Russia, the export potential of wood, and especially wood pellets, is on an upward trend.
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Tuan expressed his confidence that LH, with its expertise and experience, would swiftly implement the urban area project, contributing to a modern urban landscape for the province.
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Vietnam Cycle Expo 2025 will coincide with the Vietnam Sport Show 2025, an international exhibition on sports and outdoor entertainment, expected to attract more than 20,000 visitors in the three-day event.
Despite global economic uncertainties, Binh Duong has maintained strong momentum in both exports and industrial production during the first half of 2025.
Workers at Thuan An Wood Processing Joint Stock Company in Binh Duong province. (Photo: VNA) 
