US$16M forest sector investment proposed Chinese team here for talks Stabroek News April 18, 2000 The Jilin Forest Industry Corporation (JFIC) of the People's Republic of China is set to invest some US$16 million in Guyana's forestry sector and a high level delegation from the Jilin Province is here to fast-track the deal. "The discussions we had with the delegation were very fruitful," Minister of Fisheries, Crops and Livestock, with responsibility for Forestry, Satyadeow Sawh, told Stabroek News yesterday. "We are trying to expedite the forestry deal before the end of the year." The nine-member Chinese delegation headed by Vice-Governor of the Jilin Province, Wei Minxue, visited Prime Minister Samuel Hinds yesterday morning before meeting Sawh. The delegation later met a government team. The visit will also be used to explore the possibilities for other investment in Guyana by the private sector of the Jilin Province. Sawh said JFIC is the fourth largest company in the forestry sector in China. The firm has interests in Papua New Guinea, Russia and Suriname, he said. The minister disclosed that an Environmental Impact Assessment has already been done on the proposed forestry project and JFIC has submitted a forestry management plan to the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) which is necessary before an Exploratory Permit could be approved. The company plans to construct a plywood factory and has indicated that it would manufacture other value-added products such as parquet tiles and furniture. The forestry concession is located in the North West District and the GFC will meet the Amerindian communities in the area to discuss the project proposal, Sawh stated. "We have to streamline several areas to get the project off the ground but we will do everything to see the investment comes through," the minister told this newspaper. The investment will facilitate the transfer of technology, create jobs for Guyanese and, as such, aid the economic growth of the country, Sawh noted. Sawh said the delegation has also shown interest in aquaculture, agro-processing, livestock and cash crops. General Manager of the Jilin Textile Import and Export Company, Li Xiulan, expressed interest in the textile industry and will be exploring the options, he said. Wei told reporters yesterday that the forestry project was the beginning of investments between Guyana and the Jilin Province. Further discussions on the project will be had with Sawh, he said, and expressed confidence of it materialising. The other members of Wei's delegation were Wang Baoguang, director general, Jilin Foreign Trade & Economic Cooperation Department (FTECD); Cao Jiaxing, vice-director general, Jilin Planning Committee; Fan Fei, vice-director general, Jilin Foreign Affairs Office; Chen Feng, section chief, FTECD; Jiao Haikun, general manager, Jilin Chemical Industry Company; Zhang Xiaodong, vice-general manager, JFIC; and Zhao Liren, general manager, Jilin Industries (Guyana) Inc. The three-day visit by the Chinese delegation ends today after which the team will travel to Brazil.