Gov’t to support private sector in expansion of export markets in forestry

GINA, GUYANA, Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Government is teaming up with the private sector to work on a suite of measures in an effort to restore robustness to the forestry sector.

The forestry sector’s performance is expected to constrict significantly by 33.3 percent by the end of 2016, Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan said during his presentation of the 2017 budget on Monday in the National Assembly.

Minister Jordan credited the constriction “principally as a result of Barama halting the production of logs and the UK’s (United Kingdom’s) restriction on greenheart logs originating from Guyana.”

In 2017, the government will seek to improve the sector’s performance by supporting the private sector in the expansion and diversification of export markets. “The implementation of these measures is expected to aid in restoring robustness to the sub-sector, improving productivity, and reducing the vulnerability of our economy to external shocks,” Minister Jordan said.

The Government will also explore opportunities for non-timber uses such as conservation value, carbon value, non-timber forest products, Minister Jordan pointed out.

There will also be continued promotion of sustainable forest management principles. The Forest Training Centre Incorporated will train at least 300 loggers in various areas of sustainable forest management in the coming year.

 

By Tiffny Rhodius