Trade

In 2019, the Netherlands doubled its wood pellet imports to a new record of 1.22 million metric tons (MMT). Imports are forecast to double again this year based on Dutch power companies’ co-firing plans. The majority of Dutch pellets were sourced from the Baltic States, followed by Russia and the United States as the leading non-European suppliers. The Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management has requested two Dutch government agencies investigate the long-term role of biomass for the circular economy and whether or not it is necessary to implement a new sustainability framework for biomass.

On Thursday, 27 February, the 10th European Union-African Union Commission-to-Commission meeting was held at the African Union (AU) Headquarters in Addis Ababa.

The Upgrading and Restructuring Industrial Programme (PRMN) and the Quality Infrastructure Programme in Central Africa (PIQAC) are funded by EU and implemented with the technical support of UNIDO. The infopoint will discuss the main achievements of the two programmes, lessons learned and how public and private authorities of Central Africa should collaborate with international community to scale up the achieved results and support the African Continental Freed Trade Area (AfCFTA)