The President of the republic of Ghana John Agyekum Kuffour has advised timber industry operators to network to complement each others effort in order to drive the economy ,since it was the era of globalization. “Individual company cannot survive as the industry celebrates it 100 years of timber industry and 50 years of industrialization of the economy”.
This was contained in a speech of the president read on his behalf by the Minister of Lands, Forestry and Mines Mrs. Esther Obeng Dappah on the occasion of the opening of the Ghana International Furniture and Wood working Industry Exhibition 2008 (GIFEX) in Accra.
The theme for the exhibition “100 years of forestry in Ghana: Networking partnership for sustainable development” is an appropriate time for stock taking and sober reflections. He challenged the industry to explore opportunities globally such increased trade in secondary processed products and temperate hardwoods, limitations on species used in the trade, non tariff barriers, plantations, voluntary licensing schemes and price dumping coupled with competition from the Far East.The president said the timber industry has been the mainstay of the economy for a very long time. It provides livelihood to about 10% of the population and contributes about 6-8% of gross domestic product. Therefore I advise to put a stop to the removal of exceeded trees from the various forest in the country, this called for the competitive biding by government in the last few years to control timber harvest. Government therefore encourage operators to embark more into reforestation and plantation development to help expand t he forest resource base.
Mr. Kufuor also stress the need to develop trends in international trade concerns over the origin of wood products and illegal logging which has compelled consumer countries to initiate measures to curb down illegal wood product. This has also led to markets being driven by procurement policies that ensure sustainable forest management. He promised government’s support to the industry to make it a viable one.
The Chief Executive Officer of The Forestry Commission Prof. Nii Ashie Kotey pledge his support to promote and make GIFEX an excellent trade exhibition to create more links both internal and external to boost its economic gain both to operators and the economy.
This was contained in a speech of the president read on his behalf by the Minister of Lands, Forestry and Mines Mrs. Esther Obeng Dappah on the occasion of the opening of the Ghana International Furniture and Wood working Industry Exhibition 2008 (GIFEX) in Accra.
The theme for the exhibition “100 years of forestry in Ghana: Networking partnership for sustainable development” is an appropriate time for stock taking and sober reflections. He challenged the industry to explore opportunities globally such increased trade in secondary processed products and temperate hardwoods, limitations on species used in the trade, non tariff barriers, plantations, voluntary licensing schemes and price dumping coupled with competition from the Far East.The president said the timber industry has been the mainstay of the economy for a very long time. It provides livelihood to about 10% of the population and contributes about 6-8% of gross domestic product. Therefore I advise to put a stop to the removal of exceeded trees from the various forest in the country, this called for the competitive biding by government in the last few years to control timber harvest. Government therefore encourage operators to embark more into reforestation and plantation development to help expand t he forest resource base.
Mr. Kufuor also stress the need to develop trends in international trade concerns over the origin of wood products and illegal logging which has compelled consumer countries to initiate measures to curb down illegal wood product. This has also led to markets being driven by procurement policies that ensure sustainable forest management. He promised government’s support to the industry to make it a viable one.
The Chief Executive Officer of The Forestry Commission Prof. Nii Ashie Kotey pledge his support to promote and make GIFEX an excellent trade exhibition to create more links both internal and external to boost its economic gain both to operators and the economy.
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