Marketing and Delivering BC Forest Products Around the World | FII

Corporate

Premier Christy Clark; B.C. Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation Pat Bell; Natural Resources Canada Minister Joe Oliver; and MOHURD Vice Minister Qiu Baoxing join Chinese and Canadian technical and industry representatives at a meeting of the Joint Working Committee on November 9, 2011 in Beijing.

FII is a B.C. Crown agency governed by a Board of Directors and accountable to the B.C. Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training. FII operates out of offices in Vancouver, Shanghai, Beijing and Mumbai.

Vision, Mission and Values

FII’s vision, mission and values reflect its mandate as the forest products marketing agency of the provincial government:

  • Vision:  Forestry Innovation Investment is an effective catalyst in positioning British Columbia as the leading global supplier of environmentally superior products from sustainably managed forests.
  • Mission: FII’s mission is to be an innovative and collaborative forest marketing agency that anticipates and meets the needs of government, the B.C. forest sector, and international markets through well balanced investments that maximize value to British Columbia.
  • Values:
    • Focus on partnerships – FII works in partnership with key stakeholders to develop initiatives and ensure programs are effectively delivered in a coordinated manner.
    • Innovation – FII encourages innovative programs and responses to changing circumstances.  FII staff learn from the past and continuously improve the effectiveness and efficiency of FII programs by consulting widely and optimizing the use of resources.
    • Integrity and Credibility – Projects and services are delivered by capable, motivated individuals who focus on ensuring FII programs are credible and useful.
    • Investments based on knowledge and excellence – FII strives for transparent decision-making and investment processes based on research.

Benefits to British Columbia

Encouraging expanded wood use both in B.C. and around the world is central to all of FII’s programs and investments.  A strong and healthy forest industry, with growing markets and market segments, encourages reinvestment and employment in the sector – directly supporting Canada Starts Here: The BC Jobs Plan.

FII benefits the families and economy of British Columbia by:

  • working to maintain existing markets for B.C. forest products in collaboration with the forest sector, supporting forestry jobs throughout B.C. ;
  • opening up new markets for B.C. forest products and creating the potential for new jobs to service these markets;
  • building awareness of B.C. internationally, particularly in China and elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific region, which helps strengthen and grow trade ties; and
  • supporting the growth of a sustainable and green economy by promoting the environmental benefits of wood in structural and non-structural applications and greater use of renewable wood products from B.C.

How services are delivered

FII relies heavily on a joint delivery model involving trade associations, research institutions and other government agencies.  About two-thirds of FII’s budget is used to fund, in whole or in part, initiatives that are designed and delivered by industry trade associations.  These activities are typically co-funded by FII, Natural Resources Canada through its Canada Wood Export and North America Wood First Programs, and industry.

In addition to its role as a co-funder of market development and research activities, FII pursues provincial government priorities by directly delivering a number of marketing initiatives.  These government initiatives include:

  • market research;
  • marketing resources for general use by industry and the www.naturallywood.com web site;
  • market outreach communication to explain B.C.’s forest practices and environmental record to international markets;
  • liaison with government agencies in China, where FII represents the interests of the forest sector in interactions with Chinese authorities and state controlled enterprises.
  • More details on FII activities are available on the Corporate Structure page.

Principal partners, clients and stakeholders

FII is pleased to work closely with the following organizations to sustain B.C.’s global leadership in wood products.

Organization Relationship
Government
Government of British Columbia Sole shareholder, provides FII’s core funding
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training Ministry responsible for FII
Ministry of  Forests, Lands and Natural Resources Operation Responsible for forest practices and forest management as well as managing the sale of about 20% of the annual harvest on Crown land through B.C. Timber Sales
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Government of Canada Federal agency supporting in-market trade and investment promotion
Department of Natural Resources, Government of Canada Federal funding agency  for international marketing through the Canada Wood Export Program (CWEP)Wood First initiative
Government of Alberta

Funding contributor to the China and Japan market development programs

Other

B.C. forest industry associations and organizations:

  • APA – The Engineered Wood Association
  • B.C. Forestry Climate Change Working Group
  • B.C Shake & Shingle Association
  • B.C. Wood Specialties Group
  • Bi-national Softwood Lumber Council
  • Canada Wood Group
  • Canadian Wood Council
  • Canadian Wood Council – WoodWORKS! BC
  • Cedar Shake and Shingle Bureau
  • CertiWood
  • Coast Forest Products Association
  • Council of Forest Industries
  • Forest Products Association of Canada
  • Sustainable Building Coalition
  • Western Red Cedar Export Association
  • Western Red Cedar Lumber Association
  • Wood Enterprise Coalition
  • Wood Pellet Association of Canada
  • Wood Products Council
Funding recipients that initiate and deliver domestic and international market development programs and that may also receive funding from Natural Resources Canada and/or other partner organizations

Post-secondary and research institutions:

  • FPInnovations
  • University of British Columbia
Partners and/or funding recipients that initiate and deliver product development and technical research, and overseas training programs to build local capacity in wood frame construction
British Columbia