Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud and a six-member delegation from the Republic of Congo discussed the importance of developing the capacity for value-added timber products and product development during a meeting aimed at deepening cooperation ties between the countries.
This meeting was a follow-up to one held with Congolese Minister of Sustainable Development, Forest Economy and the Environment Henri Djombo on July 20, a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release said. The delegation which is also visiting Guyana to study expertise on wood and wooden houses, met with representatives from the Guyana Forestry Commission and Persaud at the ministry’s boardroom on Tuesday.
In his address, Persaud noted that although Congo has a much larger forest than Guyana, the two countries share a number of similarities and as such they are focusing on areas from which both countries can benefit. He said Guyana is not only looking at the extraction of its raw timber but also valued-added and product development. The Congo and Guyana are home to the two largest tropical rainforests: the Congo Basin and the Amazon region.
“Over the last two years we have modified our policies, making it difficult for the export of logs and much more supportive for value added. For too long countries such as ours have been only producers of primary commodity and the raw material and then they are taken else where they are developed and then we have to import,” he said. The minister said it is imperative that the two countries focus on developing the capacity for value added.
This idea was welcomed by Alain Ngoya, Executive Manager for all wooden Industry in Congo; who told the meeting he expects the collaboration between the countries to be successful.
Persaud also pointed out that Guyana has made significant progress in the development of local wood processing, and home making and its products are used to supply international markets including the United States, and the European and Caricom markets.
The Congo plans to start a 10-year forest planting exercise next year targeting one million hectares. In this regard, Ngoya said he is impressed with Guyana’s strategy for its forestry sector as it relates to adding value. He said too that while his country is collaborating with Guyana it would be investigating other wooden species that can be developed.
GINA said the team will be holding formal meetings and visiting prominent wooden construction sites such as Castellani House, the Government Technical Institute, the North Ruimveldt Multilateral School, City Hall, Bishops’ High School and Herdmanston and Cara lodges. They will also tour Guyana Furniture Manufacturing, Precision Woodworking Ltd and Bulkan Timber works, while a formal meeting was held with Minister of Housing and Water Irfaan Ali yesterday. The team, which also included Jerome Castagne, Sales Manager, Congolaise Industrielle Des Bios; Pascal Gauthier, Independent Housing Consultant, Congolaise Industrielle Des Bois; Antonio Mazzuco, Marketing Manager, Industry on Forestry Organisation; Simon Makanga, Technical Manager, Wooden Industry in Congo and Fulbert Akovanho, Manager for all training schools in wood; is set to depart for Congo on Monday.
