GABON SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE AND ROUGIER SIGN A MAJOR LOG SUPPLY CONTRACT

10 Feb 2017 08:00 CET

GABON SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE AND ROUGIER SIGN A MAJOR LOG SUPPLY CONTRACT

Libreville February 10^th 2017

Rougier and Gabon Special Economic Zone (GSEZ) are announcing the signature of a major contract to supply logs for the processing units located in Gabon's Nkok Special Economic Zone.This partnership agreement will make it possible to take significant steps forward with the development of the processing of timber resources in Gabon.

Under the terms of this agreement, Rougier will supply okoume logs from 15 February 2017 for industrial firms in the Special Economic Zone, which GSEZ is responsible for developing and managing. Rougier has made a commitment to deliver 110,000 cu.m of okoume annually, for a seven-year period.

The partnership between Rougier and GSEZ marks a major milestone with the development of a policy promoting local timber processing and production. The okoume logs supplied by Rougier will enable the industrial operators based in the Nkok SEZ to make progress with the secondary and tertiary processing of timber, particularly for peeling construction materials, doors and windows, furniture, etc.

This agreement perfectly illustrates the sustainable dimension of the business cluster developed by GSEZ: exclusively using legal, sustainably managed timber, providing training for people and creating jobs to enable Gabon to emerge as the benchmark for the processing of timber in all its forms.

In line with this approach, GSEZ is pleased to have selected Rougier on account of the quality of its concessions and facilities, its capacity to supply high volumes of quality timber each month, and its responsible forest management expertise.

For Rougier, this long-term contract will make it possible to support the development of its operations in Gabon, positively improving the conditions for capitalizing on its timber production. While providing further recognition of Rougier's expertise in Africa, this agreement confirms the Group's pivotal position in the development of a responsible timber industry in the Congo Basin.

About GSEZ

GSEZ SA is a joint-venture between the Gabonese Republic, Olam International and Africa Finance Corporation. Since 2010, it has been developing a new generation of local infrastructures.

Its portfolio of projects covers various fields (mineral shipping terminal, commercial port, energy and water infrastructures, etc.), bringing together public and private sector expertise, network and capital.

Among these initiatives, the Nkok SEZ is an outstanding project to provide a responsive ecosystem for a diversified, value-added timber industry in Gabon including a furniture manufacturing cluster:

• Over 1,000 hectares set aside for development, management and trade (national, sub-regional and international
• 1 Single Window Clearance for quick and easy paperwork
• 40 hectares dedicated for the manufacturing of luxurious “Made in Gabon” furniture
• 500 m2 shed per manufacturer minimum
• 5 000 m2 common kiln dry facility
• 5 000 m2 of common high tech furniture manufacturing equipment
• 9 000 m2 common exposition hall
• 17 units for veneer production and 2 plywoods
• Workshop and training to manufactures   /   In house specialist designers per market at disposal of all  /   Easy access to loan for manufacturers   /   Regular supply on quality wood to manufacturers   /   Reliable electricity and water at subsidized tariff.

www.gsez.com

About Rougier:

Rougier was founded in 1923 and has been a family run business for more than 90 years. It is today one of the world's leading timber companies. 

The group has three core activities:

• “Natural forests” for forest logging, industrial processing and international trade in tropical timber through Rougier Afrique International and its subsidiaries
•  
• “Importation and distribution on the French market” for the import of various timber products of any origin (temperate and tropical species) to France and their distribution via Rougier Sylvaco Panneaux.
•  
• “Plantation forests” specialized in the study and management of investments in industrial forest plantations in Africa in association with FRM within Lignafrica.

More than two million hectares of forest are operated under Rougier-owned concessions in the heart of Central Africa: Gabon, Cameroon, Congo and RCA.

These operations concern production, processing and trade of logs, sawn timber and plywood from a wide range of timber species. The group’s strength lies in the integration of its activities all the way from the product’s origin until it is placed on the market.

www.rougier.com

Contacts:

Cyril Combe
cyril.combe@calyptus.net
Tel: +33 (0)1 53 65 68 68

Sarah Adnane
Sarah.adnane@olamnet.com
Tel : + 221 6 00 69 99

Connect_cp_rougier_gsez_ve.pdf