Sambreboi (w/r), Aug. 11, GNA - Samartex Timber & Plywood Company Limited, a wood processing and agro forestry company located in Samreboi in the Western Region, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Forestry Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG) of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to improve the research and development agenda of the two institutions.

The MOU, which would be in force for a five-year period, would strengthen the understanding between the two institutions on research network, to contribute to the improvement of the sustainability of the timber industry in Ghana.

Mr Kurt Ditz, Managing Director of Samartex Timber & Plywood Company Limited signed for the company, whilst Dr K. Sekyere signed for the Director of FORIG.

Present at the ceremony were Mr K. K. F. Ghartey, a Renowned Forester & Consultant, Richard Nsenkyire, Deputy General Manager and Peter Damuah, Human Resource Manager of the company. Mr Ghartey stressed the need for research institutions to collaborate with industries and training institutions to research into emerging social, economic and scientific problems confronting the timber industry.

He said Samartex has entered into a similar agreement with the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science Technology, KNUST, and the College of Forest Technology, Sunyani with the view of giving industrial and field training to the students. With these agreements on board, he expressed the hope that his vision of linking field practices with research and training would be of mutual benefits, and that it would materialized to enhance professional forestry practices in the nation as a whole. 11 Aug 08