Global Legal & Sustainable Timber Forum 2026 Opens Today (22 September), Launching Six International and Local Co-operation Outcomes

The Global Legal & Sustainable Timber Forum 2026 (GLSTF 2026) officially opened today (22 September), bringing together over 800 guests from 49 countries and regions worldwide. Total attendance has grown by around 12% compared to the previous edition, with delegates from Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking countries and ASEAN nations accounting for more than 30% of all overseas participants. The significantly increased number of international organisations participating in the Forum further highlights its growing global engagement and industry influence. Taking place over two consecutive days, the Forum will feature nearly 20 diverse concurrent events, leveraging Macao’s MICE strengths to build a premier global dialogue hub for the timber industry and an international co-operation platform.

Building industry consensus and deepening high-quality global timber collaboration

The opening ceremony was officiated by Tam Vai Man, Representative of the Chief Executive of the Macao SAR and Secretary for Transport and Public Works; Liu Decheng, Director of the Economic and Financial Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR; and Cheng Lei, Deputy Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macao SAR; alongside distinguished overseas guests from the Republic of Cameroon, the Kingdom of Thailand, the Republic of Mozambique, the Republic of Peru, the Gabonese Republic, and the Togolese Republic, as well as representatives from various international organisations.

In his address, Che Weng Keong, President of the Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) of the Macao SAR, stated that President Xi Jinping had emphasised China’s commitment to working with the international community to promote forest conservation, responsible timber trade, and greener, more resilient supply chains. He added that the Forum has grown into an important platform for dialogue and co-operation. The more diverse international participation this year further strengthens the Forum’s international reach and Macao’s role as a platform for co-operation. President Che also encouraged participants to make full use of Macao’s platform to explore opportunities for co-operation.

In her remarks, Sheam Satkuru, Executive Director of the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), highlighted that the ITTO has worked tirelessly toward the objectives of sustainable management of tropical forests and the legal and sustainable trade of tropical timber and wood products, with over 1,400 projects implemented in the tropics. She expressed hope that this year’s Forum would focus on three areas: strengthening trust, transparency, and connectivity; empowering the people and businesses that sustain these supply chains; and turning legality and sustainability into opportunity—forging partnerships through Macao’s platform and producing fruitful results.

Unveiling six international and local co-operation outcomes and facilitating the signing of two agreements on Day One

On its opening day, the GLSTF 2026 hosted an achievements release event to launch six international and local co-operation outcomes. These outcomes covered various areas, including industry governance, data indicators, technological applications, and standard setting, reflecting the collaborative efforts of international organisations, industry associations, and Macao enterprises. Key outcomes include: the “Action Framework 2026 for Promoting Legal and Sustainable Timber Supply Chains”, which is aligned with the latest development needs to drive industry growth and transformation; the upgrading of the Global Timber Index (GTI) platform to include a new price index to create a comprehensive industry service portal; the official application and operation of the Blockchain-based Timber Traceability System-Trading Platform (BTTS-TP) in Macao; the establishment of the Global Timber Association Network (GTAN) to enhance information sharing and business collaboration among national trade associations; the inauguration of the International Cooperation and Innovation Center for Green Transformation of Global Supply Chain, spearheaded by Macao industry associations and enterprises; the initiation of the drafting of the Macao Green Standard Management System & Standard for Biomass Aviation Fuel; and the signing of a co-operation agreement on jointly building a Muslim-friendly market environment in Macao.

Two major agreements were signed on the first day of the event, covering an industry trading platform and a green procurement digital intelligence platform, with total contracted values reaching approximately MOP 2 billion.

Holding the inaugural financing and investment matchings tomorrow, alongside sub-forums and a sustainable timber display

On the first day of the event, the High-Level Segment focused on three key topics: “Timber Industries in Global Disruptions”, “Transformation of Industry & Trade Patterns for Supply Chain Resilience”, and “Innovations for Sustaining the Timber Sector”, driving industry breakthroughs, transformation, and innovation.

Tomorrow, the event will continue with four specialised sub-forums centred on “Timber Legality and Sustainability”, “Sustainable Timber Resources, Markets and Trade”, “Market Trends and Industry Innovations in Furniture & Home Furnishings”, and “Green Finance and Innovative Facilitation Measures”. The Forum will also see the launch of the Ad-hoc Macao Financing & Investment Matchings, alongside multiple side events, to further promote investment matching and technical exchanges.

The Legal & Sustainable Timber Display brings together forestry authorities, industry organisations, and timber enterprises from the Chinese mainland, Macao, and Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking countries such as Brazil, Ecuador, and Mexico. It actively fosters international exchange and commercial collaboration, fully exerting Macao’s role as a “precise connector” between China and Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking nations.

To register or find out more about the GLSTF 2026, please visit the official website: http://www.glstf.net/.

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