OTTAWA - The Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) issued a statement of support for the Canadian Government's latest trade initiative, the Global Markets Action Plan.

The Canadian forest products industry, at $57 billion, is one of the country's leading export sectors, receiving almost half its revenues from products sold in 180 markets around the world. Forest products are Canada's number one export to China, and represent 2% of Canada's GDP and provides 230,000 direct jobs

"From its very beginnings, the Canadian forest products sector has heavily relied on export markets," says the President of FPAC, David Lindsay. 

IN 2012, FPAC launched Vision2020, a plan which includes the goal of generating an additional $20 billion in economic activity in new products and markets by the end of the decade. The Government of Canada also underwrites the Investments in Forest Industry Transformation (IFIT) program and through FPInnovations.