Two Vietnamese firms have become official members of the Global Forest and Trade Network (GFTN), a WWF-led partnership aimed at building an international market for environmentally responsible forestry products.
Quang Ninh Forest Products Processing Joint Stock Company and Nam Dinh Forest Products Joint Stock Company bring the total number of Vietnamese firms participating in the programme to 13.
Le Cong Uan, GFTN-Viet Nam co-ordinator, said GFTN participants would receive technical help with gaining Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification.
The FSC is an international not-for-profit, multi-stakeholder organisation that promotes responsible management of the world’s forest. Many countries, such as the US, Germany, France and Britain, only accept products from companies holding FSC certification.
In addition, those holding the certificate are given help with accessing markets in Europe and North America – major consumers of wooden products from sustainably managed forests.
Tran Thi Lan, director of the Quang Ninh Forest Products Processing Joint Stock Company, said that by joining the network the company would be able to gain timely information about international markets, especially new regulations about major importers such Lacey Code of the US and the EU’s Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade.
“Market information access is crucial for small- and medium-sized companies like us to keep pace with market changes,” she said.
The GFTN links more than 400 companies, communities, NGOs, and entrepreneurs, including 271 official members in more than 30 countries around the world.
