Forest investment and market outlook is the theme for the Forest Industry Engineering Association's third biennial forest industry investment conference in Auckland on April 9-10.

A second conference will be held on the same theme in Melbourne on April 14-15.

The conferences will focus on strengthening ties between the equity investment, finance and forest products industries in New Zealand, Australia and globally. The list of keynote speakers includes:
• Kevin Mason, managing director, Equity Research Associates, BC, Canada.
• Gary Myers, principal, Timberlink – timber advisors to institutional investors, Georgia, USA.
• Brooks Mendell, president, Forisk Consulting, Georgia, USA.

FIEA event director John Stulen says the global recession has forced many industries to review their attitudes to risk and industry growth.

Meanwhile, renewal in the forest and wood products industry, particularly in Australasia, has brought new opportunities to the fore.

'Many of the countries that are key buyers of our wood exports are now beginning to emerge from the recession,” says John.

'With many timberland investments around the globe continuing to perform well during the global financial crisis, equity investors are now very focused on this investment class.

'FIEA is bringing some the key timber investment advisors to Australasia to inform industry leaders of where they need to be positioned to make the most of current changes for their businesses.”

Forestry is also poised to pick up a greater share of the equity investment resources that could make for huge change and growth in the industry, says John.

'Forest products companies in many countries now have huge export opportunities into China and Asia. It's about both investment and market opportunities; and it works both ways.

'The time is right for senior managers in New Zealand and Australia's forest products industry to learn more about these. Our speakers are all well-versed in these subjects and are willing to share their insights.”

John says in addition to China's continued appetite for imported wood, it is vital for people to understand how to build relationships with the key players in Asia and China specifically.

'We've dedicated two key sessions in this high-level conference to the subject of building relationships with Chinese industries. Our industry there has surged ahead with wood exports to China; and there is a degree of learning that can come from key people's experience on that front.

'Finance and investment industry leaders and executives will also learn a lot from the collection of local experts in key areas, where forestry has some challenges to solve. We have always attracted a strong group of CEOs and senior managers to this conference on investment and markets. We've worked hard again to bring an informative line-up of speakers to help people get some real insight for their own strategies and tactics for business growth.”

It's also vital investment advisers and financiers are more aware of the global factors that will affect future forest and forest products developments in New Zealand and Australia, says John.

'This pan-industry conference will include key international forestry investment experts who will provide that global view.”

To register, call 07 921 1382 or visit http://fimo2014.com