September 23, 2002
Economists weigh if housing will remain as bright spot for forest sector
WHAT:
Orawin Velz, senior economist with Fannie Mae in Washington, D.C., will give the keynote address and John Mitchell, western regional economist with U.S. Bancorp out of Portland, is the luncheon speaker Thursday, the first day of an international forest-products markets conference sponsored by the University of Washington’s Center for International Trade in Forest Products. Along with their forecasts for the housing market, other speakers during the two-day conference will report on the status of commodity markets for timber, logs, chips and other forest products around the globe. Organizers expect 150 attendees from Canada and the United States.
WHEN:
Thursday and Friday, Sept. 26-27
WHERE:
Mountaineers Building, 300 Third Avenue West, Seattle (206) 281-7775
SESSION HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:
— “Economic and Housing Market Outlook,” Velz, Thursday, 9:20 a.m.
— “Nirvana is in the Rearview Mirror for at Least Awhile,” Mitchell, Thursday, 12:20 p.m.
— The U.S.-Canadian softwood lumber disagreement, Les Reed, University of British Columbia professor emeritus, Thursday, 3 p.m.
— The change just last month in Chinese building codes making it far easier to use wood frame construction there, Matthew Brady and Xu Fang, both with the American Forest and Paper Association in China, Thursday, 4 p.m.
FULL AGENDA:
http://www.cintrafor.org/CONFERENCE_TAB/overview.htm
REGISTRATION ACCEPTED AT THE DOOR:
Cost is $375
REPORTERS:
No registration fee for reporters. For more information call Sandra Hines, 206-543-2580
