Press release
22nd Mar, 2022
Congolaise Industrielle des Bois (CIB) has become the first company in Africa to achieve FSCTM project certification
Brazzaville, Congo
Congolaise Industrielle des Bois (CIB), a subsidiary of Olam Agri, has become the first company in Africa to complete a Forest Stewardship Council™(FSC™) certified project with the construction of a restaurant for employees of the Wildlife Conservation Society Congo (WCS) and Fondation Nouabale Ndoki (FNN). The project certification (FSC-P001887) means only FSC™ certified timber was used during the construction of the restaurant. The hut-restaurant has an equipped kitchen and a wooden bar which was manufactured at the same time as the structure.
All wood products used in this project came exclusively from FSC™ certified CIB sources1, prefabricated in CIB’s workshop in Pokola and took four months to assemble on site on the boundary of the Nouabale Ndoki National Park2. The construction team involved are regularly trained on traceability and safety requirements related to FSC – STD – 40 – 004.
On the significance of this certification, Vincent Istace – Head of Cor
Press release
19th Oct, 2021
Gorilla Coffee Alliance to Enhance Rural Livelihoods and Wildlife Conservation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
USAID, Nespresso, Olam Food Ingredients, TechnoServe, the Wildlife Conservation Society, and Asili will partner to support sustainable agriculture and rural enterprise to reduce threats to the critically endangered Grauer’s gorilla
South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo
The eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo has seen years of economic and political turmoil, which has impacted the well-being of local communities and threatened the unique biodiversity of the area. Now, a new partnership will promote better livelihoods for local farmers and protect the region’s endemic and critically endangered Grauer’s gorilla.
The Gorilla Coffee Alliance was launched today by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID); Nespresso; Olam Food Ingredients (OFI); international nonprofits, TechnoServe and the Wildlife Conservation Society; and Congolese social enterprise, Asili. Over five years, this initiative will partner with 8,500 farming households to improve their coff
News
22nd Nov, 2021
Congolaise Industrielle des Bois (CIB) inaugurates 3rd timber processing unit in Republic of Congo
Congolaise Industrielle des Bois (CIB) recently inaugurated its 3rd processing unit in the presence of the Ministry of Forest Economy (MEF), Republic of Congo, Her Excellency Mrs Rosalie Matondo.
CIB continues to remain committed to maximising the value addition at source and supporting the local economy through job creation in the industry and ecological and social programmes. The Enyelle timber processing unit is a giant leap forward with its state-of-the-art manufacturing line, making it one of the most modern processing units in the Republic of Congo and West Africa.
Built on an area of 46,000 m2, the first phase of the processing line will produce around 1,500 M3 of finished products per month. The automated line boasts modern equipment, including a customised opticut machine which guarantees the maximum recovery of defect-free products. The project's second phase is expected to finish by the first quarter of 2022, scaling up the monthly production to 2,500 M3. The processing un
News
2nd Nov, 2021
CIB inaugurates third processing unit in Enyelle, Republic of Congo
Congolaise Industrielle des Bois (CIB) recently inaugurated its 3rd processing unit in the presence of the Ministry of Forest Economy (MEF), Republic of Congo, Her Excellency Mrs Rosalie Matondo.
CIB continues to remain committed to maximising the value addition at source and supporting the local economy through job creation in the industry and ecological and social programmes. The Enyelle timber processing unit is a giant leap forward with its state-of-the-art manufacturing line, making it one of the most modern processing units in the Republic of Congo and West Africa.
Built on an area of 46,000 m2, the first phase of the processing line will produce around 1,500 M3 of finished products per month. The automated line boasts modern equipment, including a customised opticut machine which guarantees the maximum recovery of defect-free products. The project's second phase is expected to finish by the first quarter of 2022, scaling up the monthly production to 2,500 M3. The processing un
Blog
25th Jan, 2022
Home Maker To Home Builder – The Journey Of Women Building Houses In The Republic Of Congo
For 23 women from the village of Pokola, in Republic of Congo, this year's International Women's Day will be remembered as the beginning of an unprecedented journey. They committed themselves towards a livelihood they could never otherwise have imagined – and along the way, educating their husbands, families and future co-workers on equality and empowerment.
Launched on March 8, 2021, Project MaC - 'Menagere a Constructrice' or 'Home Maker to Home Builder' allowed women in the north of the Republic of Congo to develop skills for constructing wooden houses, enabling them to secure roles with Congolaise Industrielle des Bois. The success of this project paved the way to launch the second edition on August 8, 2021. It was a moment of rejoicing for CIB, seeing the 23 women from the first edition graduate and welcoming the new batch of 20 women for the second edition.
From 1968 until six months ago, forestry, wood and wood products operations were filled mainly by male workers at Congol
Blog
1st Jul, 2020
Oka - Listening to the Congo Basin
CIB’s Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Team spends hundreds of days each year on the ground, listening to and engaging with the local population. The Baaka, the indigenous population of Congo, and Bantus who are the majority of the population live within our forest concessions since our arrival in 1968, listening and speaking with the local peoples has been critical to building mutual respect and understanding.
Regular communications in this region does have challenges and requires innovative thinking. The varied terrain with marshes, savannahs, forest and rivers make travelling a feat and the rains do not make gathering a community or a village easier. The majority of the local population is nomadic in nature and the hunters and gatherers often only come back at sundown, and it can prove harder to have meaningful engagement or conversations at the end of the day. And most importantly, the plethora of local dialects and languages means it is essential to communicate in the
