By Richa Sharma
New Delhi, Feb 5 (IANS) Home to one of Africa's largest forest expanses, the Republic of Congo wants Indian companies to invest in the timber industry, the second biggest money-spinner after oil in the central African country, says its Forestry and Environment Minister Henri Djombo.
"We have a big timber industry and would want Indian private companies to come and invest in the our timber companies," Djombo told IANS in an interview here.
The country, also informally known as Congo-Brazzaville to differentiate it from its larger neighbour, the Democratic Republic of Congo (erstwhile Zaire), is also looking forward to cooperation with India in science and technology, agriculture, railways, information technology, industry, health and pharmaceutical sectors.
Djombo was here to participate in the 12th edition of the Delhi Sustainable Development Summit (DSDS).
Explaining the steps taken by the government for efficient management of forests in the country, Djombo said: "We are the first tropical country in the world to have 2.5 million hectares of certified forest cover and are expected to double it between 2012 and 2015."
The minister however expressed concern over poor financing from developed nations for sustainable management of forests.
"There is a financial and climate injustice being done to us. We are making so much efforts for forest management compared to the Amazon forest in Brazil or rainforest in Indonesia but compensation is less. It is like all bad students are getting rewards," said the 50-year-old leader, who is a member of the Congolese Labour Party.
Djombo sought to know if the international community is waiting for his country's forest to be cleaned up before it can be compensated.
The country wants green economy to be promoted in Africa and would want to see a mechanism in this regard at the Rio +20 conference in Brazil in June this year.
The Republic of Congo will lead the African delegation to the Rio conference, which will mark 20 years after the Earth Summit.
The country with a population of around 3.6 million also wants India to help it in taking measures for adapting to climate change.
On the economic front, India and Congo have a total trade of $650 million.
Main items of India's imports from the central African country are metallic ore and metal scrap, organic chemicals, pearls, semi-precious stones, oil seeds and petroleum while India exports rice (non-basmati), tea, spirits and beverages, power loom fabrics, pharmaceuticals and meat products.
According to the ministry of external affairs, there has been a sharp increase in imports by India in 2008-09 especially of ores, slag and ash and mineral fuels, mineral oils and products.