The FAO Advisory Committee on Paper and Wood Products held its thirty-ninth session at FAO Headquarters in Rome, on 23 and 24 April 1998. This was the second meeting of the enlarged committee, which was chaired by Mr M. Mezzour, and attended by 15 members and 52 advisers from 35 countries and 7 international organizations [Association Technique International des Bois Tropicaux (ATIBT), Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI), European Commission, European Investment Bank, International Institute for Applied System Analysis (IIASA), UN-Economic Commission for Europe-FAO, and Unión de Selvicultores del Sur de Europa (USSE)].
Though it has been enlarged, the Committeeís role remains unchanged, and consists in advising the Director-General of FAO in the paper and wood industries sector. It also acts as a forum for participants where they can exchange experience and technical information.
The emphasis of this yearís session was on trends in trade flows and production patterns, and on the review of the Global Fibre Supply Study (GFSS) before its publication.
FAO acknowledges with gratitude the work of this Committee and the efforts of its members to advise the Organization in its programme.
The Chairman of the Committee, Mr M. Mezzour, and the Committeeís Secretariat express their gratitude to all the participants for their efforts towards the successful conclusion of this session.
K.H. Schmincke
Director
Forest Products Division
