8th AIMMP Congress: Wood and Furniture Sector doubles exports in 10 years

The congress highlighted key topics such as ESG, decarbonisation, talent management and the sector’s attractiveness, internationalisation, financing, marketing and innovation. With a weight of more than 4% in the national GDP, the sector has reaffirmed itself as a strategic pillar of the Portuguese economy, driven by its competitiveness and sustainable vision.

The 8th Congress of the Wood and Furniture Industries, organised by AIMMP – Associação das Indústrias de Madeira e Mobiliário de Portugal (Portuguese Wood and Furniture Industries Association), took place on 28 November at the Grande Hotel de Luso, under the motto ‘Towards Excellence’. The event was attended by more than 230 participants, including entrepreneurs, specialists and stakeholders from all over the country, consolidating its position as a strategic milestone for the sector. With a contribution of more than 4% of national GDP, the wood and furniture industry has shown consistent growth over the last decade, doubling exports to more than 3 billion euros a year. Innovation, technology, design and digitalisation have been the driving forces behind this success, positioning the sector as one of the most profitable and dynamic in the Portuguese economy.
Opening the event, Isabel Damasceno, President of CCDRC – the Centre Region Coordination and Development Commission, highlighted the importance of the region’s companies to the national economy. ‘Around 20% of the country’s companies are located in the centre,’ reinforcing the congress as an opportunity to affirm the region’s role as an engine of growth for Portugal, promoting dialogue between innovation and tradition, which are fundamental pillars of industry. Miguel Macedo took part as Key Note Speaker at the congress, in a conversation with Jaime Quesado on the subject of ‘Portugal after Michael Porter’.
The congress programme also included debates on decarbonisation, sustainability strategies to align the industry with global climate goals, and the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on marketing in a presentation by Pedro Dionísio, management and innovation. There were also two round tables, one on talent management and the other on forest management from a more business perspective, two critical challenges for the future of the sector.
The ‘Stories Outside the Curve’ panel brought inspiring examples of business innovation, while the themed workshops provided participants with in-depth knowledge in specific areas, promoting a practical and strategic approach to the challenges of the future.
For Vítor Poças, President of AIMMP, the congress reaffirms the sector’s commitment to excellence and sustainability. ‘We are at a decisive moment to consolidate the growth of our sector, but also to face global challenges such as decarbonisation and digitalisation. The success of the industry depends on the efficient management of the forest, a natural and renewable resource that sustains our activity. To continue growing, we need to strengthen exports, reduce imports and invest in training talent,’ he emphasised.

The Secretary of State for Forests, Rui Ladeira, closed the congress with a speech focussing on the role of the forest as a foundation for the country’s sustainability and economy. ‘A lot of work has been done, but there are problems. We need to create harmonisation, better management, greater protection and enhancement and, above all, create opportunities.’ He concluded that ‘for the sake of the country, we shouldn’t only talk about forests when there are fires and misfortunes. We have to show that the forest and everything it brings must be a national goal, because of what it brings, but above all so as not to create an image that then has a negative impact. Regardless of who is on the mission, we have to do our best, we have to ensure that we are doing the best for the country, from a productive perspective, especially in terms of creating value and wealth, but also to create protection so that our populations don’t go through distress, providing predictability, which is a great security factor.’

The 2nd day of the Congress was marked by planning and strategic alignment

The second day of the event was dedicated exclusively to AIMMP members, with a focus on defining internal strategies to strengthen the sector. Sub-sector meetings tackled specific topics for each division of the association, promoting a productive dialogue between companies and managers.
‘This second day is essential for consolidating our strategic vision. AIMMP is not only a link between companies, but also an engine of transformation for the entire sector. These meetings allow us to adjust strategies and define priorities, aligning us with the challenges of the future and reinforcing the association’s role as a fundamental partner for the success of companies,’ emphasised Vítor Poças, President of AIMMP.
AIMMP remains committed to internationalisation and sustainability, promoting innovation and the competitiveness of Portuguese companies. With strategic markets such as the United States, the Middle East and the United Kingdom gaining prominence, the sector is preparing to face new challenges, remaining at the forefront of the national economy.