Minister Rosalie Matondo & UK FCDO Delegation Visit to Highlight Sustainable Forestry in Republic of Congo

As part of a high-level mission, Minister of Forestry Economy Rosalie Matondo and representatives from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) visited Pokola to see first-hand how sustainable forestry is being implemented on the ground by CIB, the forestry subsidiary of Olam Agri.

The delegation, led by Mrs. Ruth Davis, UK Special Representative for Nature and including Maggie Charnley (Head of the UK government’s International Forests Unit), Helena Hayman (Regional Forests Adviser) and Andrew Carr (Climate and Environment Regional Lead for Central Africa) was welcomed by Olam Agri’s leadership in the Republic of Congo, led by Dimitri Vouayemade, Director General, and Vincent Istace, Director of Environmental and Social Responsibility.

Minister Matondo emphasised the value of the FCDO’s support in establishing systems for wood traceability, tax monitoring, and quality control, all of which are managed through a centralised database at the Ministry of Finance. Local field data collected by regional departments is critical to this system’s success.

The delegation visited key sites demonstrating Olam Agri’s integrated, sustainability-driven approach:

• Cogeneration Plant: The delegation toured our cogeneration plant, which transforms wood residues into 4.1 MW of renewable electricity. This local, low-carbon energy not only powers our factories, offices, employee’s houses, and hospitals — it embodies a circular economy model where nothing is wasted.
• Showcasing value addition: Visitors toured our state-of-the-art finger-jointing and scantling production line, which transforms small wood sections into high-value, certified products — a model of circularity and efficiency. This process not only reduces waste but also anchors more value locally, creating jobs and industrial capacity in the heart of the forest.
• Demonstrating full traceability and legal compliance: At our forest management department, we showcased our tree-by-tree traceability system — from forest marking to container shipment. Built on 20 years of international certification, this system offers concrete proof of our compliance with the EUDR, UKTR and other global market requirements.
   

In this context, Minister Matondo underlined the strategic importance of tapping into lesser-known timber species — a sustainable path to unlocking Congo’s 8 million m³ potential without compromising biodiversity or regeneration cycles.

The visit concluded at the Sangha Music Studio, a space where sustainability, creativity, and community come together — a reminder that responsible forestry is also about social connection and cultural vitality.