2011 BC Export Awards – October 28, 2011

VANCOUVER, BC – As a rare, multiple-year winner of the prestigious BC Export Award (2008, 2010), SPF Precut Lumber was privileged to attend the 2011 BC Export Awards Gala at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Vancouver, BC to honour the newest class of BC Export Award winners; SPF Precut Lumber President Muhammad Amir being a guest of HSBC Canada and Mo Amir being a guest of KPMG.

In the opening address of the awards gala, British Columbia Premier, Christy Clark, spoke very highly of SPF Precut Lumber’s parent company, Pacific Prince Investments Inc (PPI), and SPF Precut Lumber’s founders, Muhammad Amir and the late Shaheen Zafar, for their contributions to the BC export economy. Notably, Premier Clark praised Muhammad Amir and Shaheen Zafar for making SPF Precut Lumber “one of [British Columbia’s] largest exporters of pallet stock and Canadian dimension lumber”.

The BC Export Awards celebrate excellence in British Columbia’s export industry, the second largest contributor to the BC economy. Exporters from around the province are recognized at the annual gala for excellence and achievements in exporting and tremendous contributions to the BC economy.

The Awards Gala, the oldest and longest running ceremony of its kind in Canada, is one of Vancouver’s premier business events.

BC Premier Christy Clark talks about Pacific Prince Investments / SPF Precut Lumber co-founders, Muhammad Amir and Shaheen Zafar.

Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards Finalists’ BBQ Reception – September 15, 2011

VANCOUVER, BC – As a prelude to the 2011 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards later in the year, Ernst & Young hosted a barbecue reception for the award finalists at the Four Seasons Hotel in Downtown Vancouver. SPF Precut Lumber’s Mo Amir represented his father, Muhammad Amir, who had been selected as a finalist in the Manufacturing category.

The reception’s keynote speaker was NHL legend and former Vancouver Canucks captain, Trevor Linden whose remarkable 19 seasons and 1300 games in the NHL make him a fitting speaker on teamwork and leadership principles applicable to the business world. Mo Amir, notably a long-time Canucks fan, had the pleasure to sit at Trevor’s table during the dinner portion of the reception.

SPF Precut Lumber’s Mo Amir and former Vancouver Canucks captain, Trevor Linden pose for a photo after dinner.

Global Buyers Mission 2011 – September 8-10, 2011

WHISTLER, BC – SPF Precut Lumber proudly showcased its widespread export diversity at the sold-out 8th annual Global Buyers Mission in Whistler, British Columbia. Throughout the event, SPF Precut Lumber had the opportunity to meet with new and existing customers, long-time suppliers, and other important stakeholders including BC Jobs, Tourism, and Innovation Minister, the Honourable Pat Bell. The SPF Precut Lumber team was represented by President Muhammad Amir, Fareed Amir, Mo Amir, and Lillian Chan, providing SPF Precut Lumber a prominent, multi-lingual presence in this premier BC forestry event. In addition, SPF Precut Lumber was proud to market Sinclar Group, a key strategic partner, at this high-profile exhibition. This year, the Global Buyers Mission was extensively covered in the Vancouver Sun and CBC media outlets.

A BC Wood initiative, the Global Buyers Mission is a three-day, invitation-only networking / tradeshow event developed to bring together qualified international buyers of wood products from around the world, with Canadian manufacturers and exporters of wood products including finished materials, building supplies, and remanufactured products. 2011 marks SPF Precut Lumber’s third year of participation in the Global Buyers Mission.

BC Jobs, Tourism, and Innovation Minister Pat Bell, Mo, Amir, Muhammad Amir, and Ali Asghar (Saify Commercial) pose in front of SPF Precut Lumber’s exhibition booth.

Sinclar Group President, Greg Stewart, and Fareed Amir proudly stand together in front of the SPF Precut Lumber display highlighting Sinclar Group studs.

With a widespread international reputation for on-time delivery of on-grade lumber at competitive prices to the highest levels of customer satisfaction, SPF Precut Lumber attracted a lot of attention throughout the three-days of the Global Buyers Mission.

Senator Gerry St. Germain's Annual BBQ -
August 28, 2011

SURREY, BC – SPF Precut Lumber’s Mo Amir was honoured to be invited to attend Senator Gerry St. Germain’s annual Conservative Party BBQ at his home at the Indian Springs Ranch in Surrey, BC.

The high-profile barbecue-lunch was attended by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who spoke and met with attendees. Other Members of Parliament in attendance included Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, James Moore; MP Nina Grewal; MP Andrew Saxton; and MP Wai Young.

BC Premier Christy Clark was also in attendance, garnering media attention for her private meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper. In addition, other BC Provincial Members of the Legislative Assembly were also in attendance for the barbecue, including Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, Mary Polak; Minister of Labour, Citizens’ Services, and Open Government, Stephanie Cadieux; and Minister of Energy and Mines, Rich Coleman.

City Councillor for Vancouver and current Mayor of Vancouver candidate, Suzanne Anton, was also in attendance, as the event was studded with local, provincial, and federal politicians, business people, and high-standing party members.

Annual host of this special event, Senator Gerry St. Germain has held several key positions within the Federal Government prior to his appointment to the Canadian Senate in 1993, including Government Caucus Chairman, Secretary of State, Minister of State (Transport), and Minister of State (Forestry).

Mo Amir and Prime Minister Stephen Harper enjoy the hot summer afternoon at the Indian Springs Ranch.

BC Premier Christy Clark and Mo Amir mingle amongst the attendees.

Schweighofer Prize 2011 – June 16, 2011

VIENNA, AUSTRIA – SPF Precut Lumber President, Muhammad Amir, was honoured to have been invited to the Schweighofer Prize 2011 event, hosted by The Schweighofer Group, a family-owned Austrian-based international holding primarily focused on the forest industry. In its fifth bi-annual year, the Schweighofer Prize awards visionary people with innovative ideas, technologies, products, and services that serve to strengthen the competitiveness and sustainability of forest management and wood utilization in Europe. The Schweighofer Prize is endowed with total prize money of € 300,000 before taxes, divided into one Main Prize and several Innovation Prizes. A weeklong celebration, including a boat trip to Melk for attendees, the major gala itself was held at the Vienna City Hall (Rathaus) on June 16, 2011.

Attended by prominent members of the European business and academic community, in addition to high-ranking Austrian politicians, the Schweighofer Prize 2011 gala was highlighted by keynote speakers Dr. Michael Ludwig, Executive City Councillor for Housing of Vienna and DI Niki Berlakovich, Federal Minister of Agriculture, Environment, and Water Management of Austria. The exclusive invitees themselves gathered from around the globe – from North America to Europe to the Middle East to Asia – to attend this high-profile event. Always with grace and excitement, Schweighofer Group CEO, Gerald Schweighofer, was an excellent host of the Schweighofer Prize 2011.

The Schweighofer family has been engaged in business for more than 360 years with a long-standing tradition in forestry and agriculture, in addition to being a pioneer in biomass for energy and a major real estate developer in Europe. Notably, the family’s Schweighofer Foundation is strongly committed to charity projects in Romania and Austria.

SPF Precut Lumber is proud to call such a successful, innovative, and charitable organization as The Schweighofer Group its strategic partner in business.