Gabon to stop exporting unprocessed timber from 15 May
Apr 30, 2010. Gabon will, effective 15 May, stop the exportation of rough logs, Gabonese Premier Paul Mba Biyoghe, said, noting that the measure was aimed at promoting the industrialization of timber activity in the area. From that date, the Gabonese wood will be processed locally before being exported.
Apr 30, 2010. /Lesprom Network/. Gabon will, effective 15 May, stop the exportation of rough logs, Gabonese Premier Paul Mba Biyoghe, said, noting that the measure was aimed at promoting the industrialization of timber activity in the area. From that date, the Gabonese wood will be processed locally before being exported, as Afrique en Ligue reported.
Forests cover 22 million hectares, representing 80% of the Gabonese territory.
With 6% of the gross domestic product (GDP), excluding oil, timber industry remains the main private employer, with about 15,000 direct jobs and 5,000 indirect jobs, according to recent figures from the Ministry of Water and Forests.