BY Dr. Ibrahim Favada, Jayne M. Buadu & Razak Issah

OUTLINE  Intra-African timber trade initiative  Project rationale  Challenges in intra-African timber trade  Solutions  Africa’s first online timber marketplace (‘Africantimber.net’)  Overview of ‘Africantimber.net’

Intra-African trade in Timbers and Timber Products(TTPs) has generally been limited. In 2007 only 10% of the region’s TTPs imports originated from the region itself, indicating major opportunities for expansion.

THREE CORE CHALLENGES IN TIMBER TRADE IN AFRICA  Weak information systems on the markets and the forest sector in producing countries.  Gaps in the existing market intelligence.  Limitations in accessing markets and in market competitiveness of TTPs due to constraints such as changes in market requirements, specific measures taken by regulators and activists to eliminate or reduce the use of tropical timber in general.

WEAK INFORMATION SYSTEMS General situations in ITTO member countries are that:  Some have no functional information systems or which are in initial phases of their development  Others have recognised the importance of marketing information, developed institutional models, but which still have significant needs to strengthen and coordinate their information systems  Some have relatively well-established national system, but still have gaps and other needs of improvement

GAPS IN THE MARKET INTELLIGENCE  Lack of information on domestic, informal sector and legal/illegal production.  Unreliable projection of demand and supply makes planning at enterprise and national level difficult  End uses and market characteristic of individual species, including LUS and plantation species, are poorly known.  There is inadequate information on factors driving change in tropical timber consumer markets and how to proactively respond to these.  Specific information on markets for Secondary processed wood products(SPWPs) is inadequate but necessary to guide investments in adding value.

LIMITATIONS IN ACCESSING MARKETS  Tariffs  Standards and technical regulations  Other non-tariff trade barriers

A PROPOSED MEASURE TO ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES IS THROUGH THE INTRA- AFRICAN TIMBER TRADE INITIATIVE Improving intra-African trade and market transparency in TTPs by:  Increasing knowledge of regional market.  Improving production capacity and marketing planning.  Improving market access and logistics

HOW THE ONLINE TIMBER MARKETPLACE (AFRICANTIMBER.NET) ADDRESSES SOME OF THE TRADE CHALLENGES The online timber marketplace will:  catalogue timber companies,  trade leads  Provide social media tool to facilitate liaison among African traders.  At the marketplace, regular surveys will be conducted with traders, market intelligence gleaned, prepared and reported on the website for various users.

OVERVIEW OF ‘AFRICANTIMBER.NET’

THE LANDING PAGE NEWS ITEMS FEATURED BUSINESS UPCOMING EVENTS SIGN UP

CREATION OF ACCOUNTS fffffffffffff

CONTACT PERSON PROFILE PAGE CHAT BOX BUSINESS MENU

LISTING YOUR BUSINESS CREATE NEW BUSINESS

LISTING YOUR BUSINESS NAME COMPANY WEBSITE EXAMPLE: LOGGER, PRIMARY PROCESSOR ETC

BUSINESS PROFILE PAGE

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

POSSIBLE CHALLENGES The lack of interest in online marketing shown by companies. Some companies are not willing to subscribe for a fee. Poor internet services High computer illiteracy

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