FORESTRY SECTOR WORKSHOP

A workshop of significant importance, focusing on the theme "Republic of Congo and the timber industry: building a successful future for our forests together", concluded with resounding success on Thursday at the Radisson Blue Hotel in Brazzaville.concluded with resounding success on Thursday at the Radisson Blue Hotel in Brazzaville.

The event brought together a large number of participants, including government representatives, development partners and private-sector players. Discussions focused on two major issues the production sharing bill and the log export ban.

In-depth analysis of the draft bill to implement the log production sharing scheme clearly reveals its inadequacy with the reality on the ground. Consequently, it is imperative to adapt its provisions to make them applicable, while taking into account the current processing capacities of the forest industry in the country during this revision.

Mr Michel Djombo, President of UNICONGO, said, "The private sector aspires to present constructive proposals to the government to integrate the production sharing model, offering solutions for all stakeholders."

It should be noted that production sharing is a unique approach in the Congo and non-existent elsewhere in the world. Gabon, often cited as an example of the log export ban, does not apply it, and the industry sources logs on the open market. As far as the log export ban is concerned, the financial, social and human repercussions are felt by all stakeholders, i.e. the State, companies in the forestry sector, companies in related sectors (e.g. transport) and local populations living near forest concessions.

The main recommendations to emerge from the workshop are :

• For production sharing, the establishment of a public-private dialogue through a joint working group to improve the draft bill.
• For the log export ban, a 4-year postponement accompanied by an action plan and a degressive authorized export quota.
• The assurance that tax benefits provided in future Special Economic Zones (SEZs) will also apply to existing forestry companies outside SEZs.
• Increased communication on the contribution of the forestry sector to development, particularly in regions far from the capital.

At the conclusion of the workshop and following a meeting between UNICONGO members of the sector, the Managing Directors of the logging companies and ARISE agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding concerning the supply of logs, thus demonstrating their mutual interest in collaborating for the development of the special economic zones.

Brazzaville, September 21, 2023