United Kingdom & Belgium
Target Market Seminar
Contact seminar for Estonian companies in the forest and wood industry, construction sector, furniture manufacturing, wood product manufacturing (eg wood building materials, wood covering materials, windows and doors, mouldings, flooring), as well as all interested parties.
The event will take place in Tallinn on March 18th from 10:00 to 15:00.
We invite you to engage with and establish connections with market experts.
The United Kingdom is one of the most important markets, yet it remains inaccessible to many. There is a lack of knowledge about the Belgian wood market and the country’s forest and wood policy. The business environment and cultural context, governed by specific rules, can lead to misunderstandings in initial business contacts, potentially impacting partnership.
Join us at the seminar to gain new insights!
Topics and speakers
“The United Kingdom as an attractive and high-growth market for Estonian wood companies and the construction sector. Introduction to Timber Development UK.”
John Kirkby, CEO, PEFC UK LTD
- The UK government’s ambitious priorities and key actions, as outlined in the new Timber Construction Roadmap, include promoting sustainable and low-carbon building materials and accounting for carbon emissions in building design, construction, and operation.
- The UK timber market: operation and demand.
- The UK aims to build 1.5 million new homes. How can Estonian timber house manufacturers, wood product producers and construction companies establish successful business contacts, agreements and meet demand in the UK?
- What specific requirements or expectations do UK companies have for potential partners in Estonia?
- Industry perspective on trade.
“PEFC UK’s role in shaping sustainability trends and wood market functioning. Requirements for importing companies.”
John Kirkby, PEFC UK LTD, tegevjuht
- Demand for certified wood products in the UK market.
- UK National Forest and Wood Policy and the government’s environmentally friendly procurement policy.
- Sustainability trends. Government perspectives on timber use in construction. Sustainable wood in national and local government procurement policies.
- What specific requirements or expectations do the UK companies have for potential partners in Estonia?
- Key characteristics of business practices and communication culture in the United Kingdom.
“Navigating the Belgian wood sector: from regional specifics to market opportunities, trade flows and sustainable construction.”
Samuel Oldenhove, CEO, PEFC Belgium
- Overview of the Belgian wood market structure and opportunities, including demand and requirements for partner companies.
- Introduction to Belgian forest and wood policy. Sustainability trends and the introduction of government procurement policies.
- PEFC Belgium’s role in the wood market and shaping sustainability trends.
- Overview of Belgian business and communication culture. Practical recommendations.
Case study: “How the Vikings went to England (again)?”
Indrek Rüütel, Member of the Board, Viking Window AS
- Who are we and how we started to export
- Why England? Opportunism and purposeful, planned effort in entering export markets.
- Market research, decision-making, risks and implementation.
- Applying the Viking business model in the United Kingdom market.
- Full commitment and achieving a strong market presence.
The list of seminar speakers and topics is not final and will be updated in January 2026.
Register for the contact event: 35 euros
Foreign lecturers will speak in English.
Ask for more information: gerly.koitla@pefc.ee
PEFC Estonia, in cooperation with its partners, is organising contact events to introduce foreign markets to Estonia’s forest and wood industry as well as the construction sector. With a presence in nearly 60 countries, PEFC seeks to share market-specific expertise with supply chain companies regarding international markets. The information presented at these seminars is intended to support companies in entering new markets or operating more effectively within them. The first target market seminar focusing on Germany and the Netherlands took place on 25 September 2025 in Tallinn.
Organizers
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