This was one of the recommendations made on Wednesday, September 22, 2010 by experts meeting in Yaounde to promote the development of the wood industry in the Congo Basin.

At the close of the second day of the workshop to promote the development of a wood industry in the Congo Basin organised by the Food and Agricultural Organisation, experts identified the extension of Cameroon’s railway network to the towns of Yokadouma and Maroua as a priority to facilitate the transport of forest resources and wood products to sub-regional markets.

After four focus group discussions, the wood experts also recommended technical and financial assistance to small and medium wood enterprises, the formation of cluster wood production areas, the identification of second-hand equipment markets, access to loans from banks, fiscal incentives on wood exports and the tarring of the Kribi-Ebolowa road. In addition, they recommended the involvement of the civil society in forestry governance, and the harmonisation of customs policies between the Central African and West African economic unions.