MEDITE 2016 FORUM: FORECAST 2010 AND BEYOND

23rd October 2009 - IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE

The latest output from the Medite2016 Forum - a unique ‘think tank' of industry leaders and academics - is a forecast for 2010 and beyond.

The forecast takes the form of a survey report and is essential reading at a time when most companies are looking at likely market demand for next year. The survey of the membership of the Medite2016 Forum sought their views on issues including prospects for 2010 and beyond, the nature of any recovery, the impact on the construction & timber industries and where the best market opportunities might be.

The Medite2016 Forum is an informal organisation which currently has some seventy members; most of its membership hold senior executive roles either within the timber industry or have governmental, business or academic involvement with the industry. Facilitated by Medite (a leading and innovative MDF brand from Coillte Panel Products), the 2016 Forum serves as a conduit for the publishing and exchange of ideas and views on issues that will shape the future of the timber industry both in Europe and globally. Every member of the Medite2016 Forum has been a speaker at a Medite 2016 Conference, written an article for one of the Forum's publications or been a contributor to the Wood Futures column which is sponsored by Medite 2016 and appears every month in the TTJ magazine.

Geoff Rhodes, Coillte Panel Products marketing and business development director called 2009 an ‘annus horribilis' for most companies involved in timber, construction or almost any sector of Europe's national economies. “The big issue facing all companies and executives within the timber industry across Europe,” says Mr. Rhodes, “is when the recovery will happen. How strong will that recovery be? And are there particular opportunity sectors offering better prospects within it? Given that collective intelligence has a track record of delivering the best solutions to difficult questions, we thought it would be really valuable if we asked the views of the collective membership of the Medite2016 Forum, which is made up of some of the most experienced business people working in or with our industry”.

The result is a unique qualitative and strategic analysis of how the future looks for 2010 and beyond, complementing the many statistical forecasts of the timber and construction markets in 2010.

Find the ‘Forecast 2010 and Beyond' at www.medite2016.com.