The opening of Expomueble shines a spotlight on the growing numbers of exports of furniture and wood products.

In the first half of 2012 exports from the sector totaled $43 million, confirming the trend that started 25 years ago in 1986 with overseas sales of just $3 million.

Carlos Porras, president of the organizing committee said that Expomueble aims to increase exports from the sector in the next quarter by at least 6%, on top of the sales and local businesses that will be generated by the event.

There is a presence at Expomueble in 2012 of buyers from the Dominican Republic, Panama, Mexico, among other countries, and the business conferences planned, lead to projections of business deals worth several million dollars.