SUMMIT COMMUNICATIONS: I will start with some personal questions, like the history of your family and the history of the company. Then, I will proceed with some questions in connection with the projects that you have, we will also talk about the relations between Congo and the United States.

With your permission, first your father is from New Zealand/ Australia, he is the founder of the company that you are running now. Can you sum up your different steps before heading the company ?

Georges FORREST: GROUPE FOREST was founded in 1922, the year during which Malta FOREST created the company in Katanga province. At the beginning, it was a transport company, then in 1933 we started mineral exploitation ( Copper, Manganese, Gold ) and earlier in the 50s, we employed civil engineers and we started civil engineering works, we built the airport of Kolwesi fro example.

It was in 1986 that I came back in mining with a production of 5 millions of cubic meters per year. Then, 8 millions of cubic meters for a project which was aiming at 6 millions of cubic meters. But the political events forced us to stop mining. It was later between 1994-1995 that we signed our first contract with Gecamines to start mining Cobalt in the quarry of Kasombo.
From there we started our partnership by the putting money which brought together Ubico/ Gecamines and GROUPE FOREST. The aim of the partnership was to stop exporting raw materials but start exporting product with some locally added value. That was the purpose of our coming together. After that, we had another project of a Copper and Cobalt mining at the town of Luiswishi which is producing 4,000 tones of Cobalt a year and 12,000 tones of Copper a year as well, we worked together with our American partner OGM on the STL project which was about exploiting slag heap rejections of Lubumbashi from Gecamines so as to extract Cobalt from. That factory is producing today 3,000 tones of Cobalt a year and between 4,000 and 4,500 tones of Cobalt a year ( the world production is, plus 15,000 tones of Zinc which are kept at Gecamines with 4.5 millions of US dollars.

Now, we are focused on the MMK project, a project located near the Zambian frontier, the project started with Japanese, then the Canadians who stepped off and let the project to Gecamines from which we suggested to take the project back, by investing between 40 and 42 millions of US dollars. We're going to start from April or May by cleaning up the mine so that the MMK can help extract 50,000 tones of Copper a year.

We have another development project of Kamoto, it represents over 300 millions US dollars that we're trying to conduct together with Canadians of the Kin Ross firm.

SUMMIT COMMUNICATIONS: From all the things that you have done here- In particular the projects that you have carried out during the war time; which one are you really proud of?

Georges FORREST: I am proud of all my achievements ! They have all been exciting.
Luiswishi, a 42 millions projects and especially with the Concentrator is amazing, we beat the world record of minerals recycling / retreatment, it is helping us to reach a higher rate. It was a difficult project because the peace deal was signed and we had to start during the transition, but we couldn't step back anymore, we had given our word; STL as well.

But we are proud of all our projects, indifferently and totally. Because each time it has been a challenge, every project required the latest technology, all of them projects required the transfer of high- technology together with expertise to Congo which I consider as my own country now because I've been here for long, this is the third generation.
In addition, every industrial project was accompanied by a social project: such as schools, hospitals, community clinics; that's part of the contract, and it is a principe that we give much importance to. Just as we want all our schools and hospitals to be open not only to our workers only but to everybody else.

SUMMIT COMMUNICATIONS: In term of social development, what are your next projects ?

Georges FORREST: For example at MMK, (near the border with Zambia), we reopened schools , a clinic which disappeared. In the province of Bas-Congo, we have hospitals, clinics, we receive the population who comes for check-ups. We came up with a food jelly ( from Soya ), 250g of it is the equivalence 1 kg of proteins, with that It helps to combat local malnutrition.

Every new project involves about 700 direct or indirect people, they are very complicated investment, our strength is due to the fact that we've been working in Congo, we have reinvested everything and continue to keep faith in this country. Seeing our commitments, we now enjoy a certain respect from the Congolese, they respect us and all the family for our investments in this country.

SUMMIT COMMUNICATIONS: We can say that you have experienced ups and downs with the same commitments. What is your driving power? Where do you get the energy to see brighter future in this country ?

Georges FORREST: First of all, I am home in here! then I believe that somebody who home always wants to go forward, to work. Today the context is very difficult and working becomes more a challenge and exciting especially when you succeed. But the risks are higher as well; it is the risks are balanced by the good achievement, it means the fact that we are creating jobs, by the fact that I can catch the slimes on my employees' faces , though many other don't have it elsewhere, I wish I could smiles on more people faces. It's my paternalistic approach I guess.

We also have an agricultural activity that we started because it is important to have agriculture turn again. It is good to focus on mineral industry, but the potentiality of this country is in the agriculture. Agriculture should be boosted. The river network is significant, the soil is rich.

In addition, the organisation is compartmentalised. Every company is run independently, the holding control the running of all companies, but each one has its managing director, its financial director and everything is done with transparency.

SUMMIT COMMUNICATIONS: Today I've come to do a story about Congo. Do you think that all the achievements in communication so far have met the needs of the country ? And more precisely, do you think communication with the United States is on the top ?

Georges FORREST: What has been done so far in general ( in term of communication ) isn't enough. Unfortunately, the country is rebuilding and is fighting to get the necessary means, it is coming from years of political unstability. Stil, there are some Americans investors interested in the country and they have come here. And when they have reached here, they understand that there is a lot to do. Most of the world stockpile of raw materials will be found in Africa; I mean great quantity of petrol, mining reserves, and even agriculture will be found here. I strongly believe there are large economic perspectives in Africa in particular here in Congo. This message should be conveyed to everybody.

There is also another project, that I haven't mentioned so far, of which OGM, an American firm, the Chinese and Georges Forrest with a one third contribution of each in order to build a high tech factory here of about 60 million US dollars to star producing Cobalt salts and Copper salts to 99,9 %. We are in partnership with our American partner, because, they had faith in us during difficult moment and now we are extending our partnership, there is no need for us to change, knowing that OGM is the world's leading Cobalt firm and also very powerful in term of investing in such projects. It is consolidating its position in creating added value produce by exporting direct marketable products from Congo.

There is another interesting project which is also monitored by the Americans. That one is about creating an aluminium factory in Congo/ Brazzaville because there we can build a port capable of allowing huge ships to dock, unfortunately, it is not possible here, that factory will be run by the electrical power of Inga dam, that we need to rehabilitate beforehand; Reynold, an American company together with Russians and our selves, we have just been contacted to join the project.

SUMMIT COMMUNICATIONS: You are a model of the kind of cooperation that can exist between Congo and the United States.

Georges FORREST: Yes, in a way. It is true that we have built a lot with Americans and also that we have good relations.

SUMMIT COMMUNICATIONS: Given the international competition to attract foreign investment, what are the assets of Congo? And do you think the government is doing enough to attract more foreign investors into DR Congo ?

Georges FORREST: The investment codes have been adopted to meet the needs of potential investors, the same with the mining codes. Investment codes are important in the country. For the mining codes which were expected by many and I think, they are appropriate and meet the needs of investors because previously; projects were analysed case per case by the conventional regime which meant long negotiations with the government to reach a common tax rate. Fortunately it is no more the case today. Now, when an Investor comes in the country, regardless of the sector of investment, everything is found in the mining codes, one knows where to stand , there are no more discussions with government officials, you know the prices and the tax amount to pay. Now, what is important is the implementation of these at all these codes.
Unfortunately, some people don't respect all the dispositions, so, there are still efforts to be made. We must continue to fight, and if there is a problem, we should not be manipulated because the rules are there. Any way, things are going to be fine.

SUMMIT COMMUNICATIONS: What is your outlook of the country in the years to come ?

Georges FORREST: The country should be assisted to go further. Officials should let people who come here help them with the development of its economy. There are investors who arrive here and manage not to pay any tax and as a result the country doesn't benefit anything from their investments. I can't go for such ones. Because I am convinced that big companies have a big role to play in encouraging the county's development in creating jobs for the population.

SUMMIT COMMUNICATIONS: And my last question, I would like to know which medal are you the most proud of ?

Georges FORREST : for me, la "legion d'honneur" is something that made me happy

SUMMIT COMMUNICATIONS: Also how would you like Forrest Company to become in 2 or 3 years to come ?

Georges FORREST: I would like it to have an epic of its own, continue to realise more consolidated mining projects. That other sectors, like agriculture prospers. But, until then, there are still a lot to do.

SUMMIT COMMUNICATIONS:: Do you have competitors here and what is your position comparing to them ?

Georges FORREST: The fact that there are investors here is positive, but it depend on the kind of investors that we have: We need "real " Investors, not people who are looking for a place to hit the jackpot and disappear. On the contrary, we need people who are going to do properly their job, these are the people who will get the respect of the population. That's the clue.

SUMMIT COMMUNICATIONS: What is the message of confidence you would like to address to the investors ?

Georges FORREST : I want investors to believe in Congo and I invite them to come over here. But I want them to be fully engaged and commited towards the people as I believe this is the only way to build and develop proper projects in this country.