Cabinet Secretary Opens 3rd Woodtech Africa International Exhibition and Conference at KICC

On 26 November, the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, Dr. Deborah Mlongo Barasa, presided over the opening of the 3rd Woodtech Africa International Exhibition and Conference at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi.
The Cabinet Secretary was accompanied by the Principal Secretary, State Department for Forestry, Mr. Gitonga Mugambi, and was received by the Chief Executive Officer of Radeecal Communications, Mr. Sanyal Desai, the event organizers.
In her keynote address, Dr. Barasa highlighted the recently launched Industrial Wood Sector Vision 2050, describing it as a long-term roadmap that positions wood as a key pillar of Kenya’s green manufacturing and climate-smart industrialization agenda. The Vision targets doubling farm and plantation tree cover to 1.2 million hectares, increasing wood supply fivefold, creating over 85,000 jobs, and storing more than 140 million tonnes of carbon by 2050.
She noted that while the industrial wood sector currently contributes approximately KES 5 billion annually to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP), it meets less than 10 per cent of Kenya’s industrial wood demand, underscoring the urgent need for increased investment, technology adoption, and stronger governance frameworks.
The Cabinet Secretary further outlined ongoing reforms within the forestry sector, including the finalization of eight new forestry regulations aimed at strengthening plantation management, enhancing benefit-sharing frameworks, setting standards for wood-based building materials, and improving traceability systems to curb illegal logging.
Dr. Barasa reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to green construction, as articulated at COP28, and emphasized the strong linkage between the 15 Billion Tree Growing Programme and the development of a competitive and sustainable commercial forestry sector.
Speaking during the event, PS Gitonga Mugambi commended industry players, county governments, and community enterprises for their role in advancing national tree growing efforts and strengthening wood value chains. He noted that the industrial wood sector remains central to driving rural economic growth, job creation, and climate resilience.
In his welcoming remarks, Mr. Sanyal Desai, CEO of Radeecal Communications, applauded the Government of Kenya for its leadership in promoting sustainable forestry and climate-smart industrialization. He observed that Woodtech Africa has evolved into a continental platform connecting manufacturers, suppliers, innovators, and policymakers, and encouraged participants to leverage the forum for deal-making, knowledge exchange, and strengthening regional supply chains.
The event was attended by senior officials from the State Department for Forestry, Kenya Forest Service (KFS), Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), representatives from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Gatsby Africa, industry players, innovators, investors, and leading manufacturers, reinforcing Kenya’s position as a regional hub for sustainable wood technology and commercial forestry.