Douala, Cameroon, 30 September- 1st October 2019 “The sub-regional Convergence Plan projects a 25% increase in absolute terms in the forestry-environment sector’s contribution to the GDP of the COMIFAC countries by 2025” said Mr. Ludovic ITSOUA MADZOUS, Deputy Executive Secretary of COMIFAC, as he welcomed the holding of the first meeting between a developed country and researchers of the Central African countries.

The gathering was chaired by Mr. Jules Doret Ndongo, Minister of Forestry and Wildlife of Cameroon, Acting President of COMIFAC. Its overall aim was to create framework conditions for collaboration between the two parties. Specific objectives included: (I) reporting on progress made by COMIFAC countries in implementing the Nagoya Protocol (ii) sharing experiences in utilization of genetic resources (iii) outlining prerequisites for researchers and research labs to use the genetic resources of researchers of COMIFAC countries to ensure effective collaboration with the Japanese private sector (iv) identifying collaboration opportunities between labs on the genetic resources of the COMIFAC countries and the Japanese private sector.

Taking the floor at the meeting, Ms. MASUDA JUNKO, the JICA representative in Cameroon, began by expressing her delight in participating in the forum, and went on to point out that the meeting was a major outcome of the work of the Central African Biodiversity Working Group *GTBAC) within the framework of the JICA Project to Support COMICAC.

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