RISI debuts new Latin American Pulp and Paper Conference

BEDFORD, Mass., March 20, 2006 - RISI today announced the launch of the Latin American Pulp and Paper Outlook Conference. The new conference joins the company's well-known pulp and paper industry conferences held annually in Europe, North America and Asia.

RISI's Latin American Pulp and Paper Outlook Conference will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on May 21-23, 2006 at the Windsor Barra Hotel & Congressos and is supported by the leading associations, ABTCP, BRACELPA and CICEPLA. The event will focus on the future of the Latin American forest products industry and will explore the issues, challenges and opportunities ahead. It will also provide insight into the industry and its position in the global marketplace.

"Our launch of this conference recognizes the growing role of the Latin American pulp and paper industry in the global market. We are very pleased to be able to extend our conference program to the region, and have put together an exceptional program. We look forward to hosting attendees in beautiful Rio de Janeiro," said Bernard Fuller, vice president, RISI.

The conference program features presentations from key industry executives, including Andre Clark Juliano, Paper Sales General Manager, Votorantim Celulose e Papel; Otávio Pontes, Vice President - Latin America, Stora Enso; Andrés Romero, President, ANDIPA; Heloisa Barbosa, Marketing Manager, Aracruz; Patrick Nogueira, Commercial Director, Orsa Celulose, Papel e Embalagens; Celso Foelkel, Consultant - Degree Celsius; and more to be announced.

A CEO/Executive Panel, chaired by Rod Young, CEO, RISI, will take place on May 22 and will explore "Latin America: What's in Store for the Next 10 Years?" Panel members include Jose Luciano Penido, CEO, Votorantim Celulose e Papel; Maximo Pacheco, President, International Paper do Brasil; Miguel Sampol Pou, CEO, Klabin, and further members to be revealed.

n addition, RISI's team of economists will present their two-year forecasts for supply, demand, profitability, investment and trade for each major sector of the pulp and paper market.

Simultaneous translations will be available in Portuguese, Spanish and English.

Conference programs and registration details are available at www.risiinfo.com/la_conf.