The President of the United Nations General Assembly <span class="txt-orange">at the Heart of CIB’s Commitment</span>

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<span class="p2">Pokola, Republic of Congo - His Excellency Dr Khalilur Rahman, President of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, visited the operations of Congolaise Industrielle des Bois (CIB), our subsidiary in the Republic of Congo. He left with the image of a business that manages forests for future generations through biodiversity conservation, energy efficiency, support for local and Indigenous communities, and long-term economic development.</span>
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<span class="p2">Olivier Renson, Country Director, and Dimitri Vouayemade, Managing Director, welcomed Dr Khalilur Rahman. He was accompanied by Rosalie Matondo, Minister of Forest Economy; Constant-Serge Bounda, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Francophonie and Congolese Abroad; Victor Gandziami, Prefect of Sangha; and Hadjinsy Grégoire Kouffa, Mayor of Pokola. The tone was set by our company presentation, which followed the mandatory safety induction. “CIB’s activities go far beyond timber harvesting and processing,” emphasised the Minister of Forest Economy, highlighting that they are also built on biodiversity conservation and consideration for the needs of local and Indigenous communities.</span>
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Forests, Biodiversity, Sustainability, Communities: The President of the United Nations General Assembly at the Heart of CIB’s Commitment
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<span class="p2">This is precisely what the delegation came to witness first-hand. Eighty kilometres from Pokola, in the heart of a forest concession, our teams explained how the forest management plan governs every intervention in the forest: selective harvesting, preservation of “future trees” that will ensure the forest renews itself, and protection of wildlife and flora. Every harvested tree is digitally inventoried, allowing customers anywhere in the world to trace the origin of their timber. Before leaving the forest, Dr Khalilur Rahman, the Ministers and the Country Director planted a tree at the invitation of the Mayor of Pokola.</span>
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<span class="p2">Our commitment to sustainability extends all the way to the industrial site. At our cogeneration plant, the President of the General Assembly learned how we convert wood residues into electricity to power our operations, reducing our reliance on diesel and giving value to what would otherwise be waste. He viewed this as a powerful symbol of sustainability: a forest resource fully utilised in support of a more efficient and responsible industry.</span>
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Forests, Biodiversity, Sustainability, Communities: The President of the United Nations General Assembly at the Heart of CIB’s Commitment
Launching a Tree Planting
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<span class="p2">Forests are also about the people who live in and around them. At an Indigenous community settlement, His Excellency discovered ancestral knowledge, including natural remedies derived from the forest. This strong community connection was further illustrated later in the day through a visit to the young artists of Sangha Music Studio, a cultural initiative we support, where the President, Ministers, Prefect and Mayor personally congratulated the participants.</span>

<span class="p2">These encounters reflect a broader transformation that the Minister of Forest Economy was keen to highlight: “Pokola has grown from a settlement of approximately 1,500 inhabitants into a town of nearly 30,000 people.” Throughout the day, this long-term perspective shaped discussions between Dr Khalilur Rahman and Olivier Renson, focusing primarily on sustainability, biodiversity, wildlife conservation and forest preservation, while supporting the economic development of Sangha and the Republic of Congo.</span>

<span class="p2">As he departed Pokola, the President of the United Nations General Assembly had seen a company that manages forests for tomorrow, protects the life they sustain, and grows alongside the communities that depend on them. We intend to continue pursuing this commitment as a pioneer of sustainable forest management in the Congo Basin.</span>

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Forests, Biodiversity, Sustainability, Communities: The President of the United Nations General Assembly at the Heart of CIB’s Commitment
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