Forestry PS Kimani officiates Woodtech Africa conference attended by 15 countries

The just concluded 2022 Woodtech Africa and Exhibition Conference held at KICC in Nairobi brought together wood industry players in addressing how to maximize the growth of those associated with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry as well as other stakeholders.

The 3-day conference which began on December 3, 2022, was highlighted as match-making and networking for business opportunities in the wood industry; it witnessed over 15 countries participating and was estimated to have transacted over Ksh.20 billion worth of business.

Under the theme, 'Unlocking the wood market in Africa through sustainable partnerships, match-making and smart technologies,’ the initiative saw those in attendance engage in wide-ranging topics in the wood market and smart technologies geared to transforming people’s lives while at the same time encouraging environmental conservation.

Among this year’s key participants was the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) under the Ministry of Environment and Forestry which saw the Chief Guest, the newly-appointed Forestry Principal Secretary Ephantus Kimotho Kimani, gracing the event.

The event attracted about 6,000 visitors and participants in a conference that was delivered by speakers with top wood science experts from the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KMA) and leading captains of wood industry from Germany.

According to one of the event organizers, Bola Properties Managing Director Malei Nthiwa, the conference was a major milestone in terms of advancing the common use of wood technology, especially in both Nairobi and Machakos counties, with Jua Kali associations on the forefront to market the initiative for unlocking the wood market industry.

“The main deliverable of Woodtech Africa 2022 Exhibition and Conference is the proposed and upcoming common use wood technology centres of excellence to be established in Nairobi and Machakos counties and thereafter roll it over to all other 47 counties in the country,” said Nthiwa.

“I want to acknowledge the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) for conducting tax clinics during the event. I also want to thank the Ministry of Trade, Nairobi County government for hosting us and look forward to a fruitful and more engaging, bigger and better Woodtech Africa 2023,” he noted.     

The event came after PS Kimotho toured several forests distributed across the country including those in Elgeyo Marakwet County where he called upon the region’s Governors to help in improving forest cover by offering seedlings of good quality and employ the youth to nurture them.

“We want the governors to give us nurseries, tubes and the budget so that we can be able to proceed to achieve maximum tree coverage,” said the PS.

According to Kimotho, once the nurseries are established, the beneficiaries will be reporting on the progress of the nurseries after every three months and expressed confidence that they are going to win in this effort to help improve on promoting environmental conservation.