Natural Resources and Tourism minister Damas Ndumbaro has lifted the ban on exports of forest raw products on conditions, including veener and sap from the patula pine tree until June next year. Due to lifting of the ban, the minister has allowed 187 containers of forest products at the Dar Port to be exported and ordered owners of other containers outside the port to observe export permit procedures from his ministry. Speaking at a meeting coordinated by the Tanzania National Business Council (TNBC) in Dar es Salaam Region, the minister said the government’s goal was to see that the forestry sector effectively contributed to the gross domestic product (GDP).
He wanted stakeholders of the sector to get prepared for the implementation of resolutions that had been passed at a meeting of the stakeholders. The meeting was held on November 15, this year, in Mafinga District, Iringa Region. “The government’s goal is to see that the forestry sector brings about productivity to its producers. You, as stakeholders, need to get prepared to implement the government directives that made me lift the ban I imposed,’’ said the minister.