The Minister and Secretary of State received New Year wishes on Thursday January 24.

Internal and external staff of the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife (MINFOF) have pledged their readiness to rally behind the Minister, Philip Ngole Ngwese, and the Secretary of State, Koulsoumi Alhadji épse Boukar, for an efficient implementation of the ministry’s triennial programmes contained in the 2013-2015 programme budget. The Secretary General of the ministry, Denis Koulagna Koutou, made the declaration last Thursday January 24 while drawing its balance sheet for 2012 and what is expected in 2013 during the New Year wishes ceremony to the Minister and the Secretary of State.

2012, the SG said, was characterised by among others, the attribution of 12 forest concessions and the fight against illegal forest exploitation which fetched more than FCFA one billion. As at today, he said, the different taxes recovered amount to about FCFA 18 billion. In 2013, they hope that the 1994 forestry and wildlife law would be finally reviewed and the government-European Union partnership agreement of forest exploitation will be effectively put in place. In response, Minister Philip Ngole Ngwese enjoined his collaborators to work in synergy so that together they can satisfactorily renew forest resources, ensure local processing before export; increase the sector’s potential so that it contributes adequately to revamping the economy and catapulting it to emergence by 2035.