Pakistan to consider importing Wisconsin wood
Pakistan buyers and U.S. sellers are meeting this month
MADISON, Wis. – Pakistan may not be one of the first countries that comes to mind as being a buyer of exported wood from the U.S. But the South Asian country located over 7,500 miles from Wisconsin is sending a team of nine “pre-qualified buyers” to the Badger state in June for a meeting with businesses interested in exporting wood, according to New North, a regional non-profit economic development organization.
Those interested in participating in a June 13 meeting with the buyers need to register by June 7 by contacting Barbara Koldos, Vice President of Business Development for New North, at barbara.koldos@thenewnorth.com, or Jennifer Lu, International Economic Development Consultant for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection, at jennifer.lu@wi.gov.
Pakistan’s need for wood makes sense when you look at supply and demand. Only 7% of the country’s land is forested, and its rising population has created a need for five million homes in “the near future,” according to Wisconsin officials. Seventy five percent of the country’s demand is for softwood, but there also is demand for hardwoods, including ash, oak and maple. The group is particularly interested in buying finished lumber.
The Pakistan tour group is also visiting Portland, Maine, and Little Rock, Arkansas, while in the U.S. The Wisconsin visit will open at the offices of Menominee Tribal Enterprises in Neopit.
