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New International Stone and Tile Federation
US-based stone specialist consultancy group, The Hudson Economics Group, has announced the formation of the International Stone and Tile Federation.
Robert ‘Bob’ Akers, formerly a partner in the Hudson Economics Group, is heading up the new international organisation.
The organisation has been formed to identify and address the multiple problems facing the international stone and tile industry, around the world. Robert comes to this position with many years of international trade experience and, most recently, as an international trade specialist, and as a full-time partner with the Hudson Economics Group.
The new International Stone and Tile Federation has been formed to address the many and sometimes critical problems facing the international marketplace. In addition, the federation looks to increase the general level of industry advertising and promotion.
One of the more pressing problems Robert sees is the recent work of the Natural Stone Council, in the United States, who was actively working on increasing the import tariffs in the U.S. on natural stone.
“I feel this particular move places those countries, on whom we rely so heavily for product, under a terrible strain with no relief in sight. This particular move is very short sighted and places an undue burden on the existing companies, in the industry, as well as the consumers in this country,” says Robert.
The International Stone and Tile Federation, is designed to accommodate a governing Board of Directors from each of the major areas of the world, who produce and utilize stone and tile extensively.
The Board will be chosen from its membership in October of this year, at its meeting held in Miami, Florida, at the Doral Resort and Spa. The term of membership of the Board of Directors is three years.
This meeting will be series of seminars, consisting of members, prospective members and also widely recognised international lawyers, trade specialists and international trade consultants.
The general theme of the organizational meeting will be to identify specific trade problems, discuss the pros and cons of those problems, and design an action plan to deal with those specific problems.
The International Stone and Tile Federation actively seeks attendees who can bring the particular and specific problems they routinely face to the forefront.
If you are interested in joining the struggle to reduce, or remove, tariffs and other similar problems, then contact the International Stone and Tile Federation, at its website.
