GABON FLASH - November 2012 by Olam Gabon Coms

Gabon Flash No-1 November 2012

Olam Gabonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Quarterly newsletter

EDITORIAL Letter from the Country Head

CORPORATE NEWS

What happened lately in our company?

NEWS FROM THE FIELD

Special delivery from our projects

ACROSS BUSINESSES Departments working towards mutual benefits

ACTIONS FROM OUR PARTNERS Drill Watt, our partner in providing access to basic needs

COMMITTING TO GABON Medical Kits distribution in Kango The story of Richard

WE ARE OLAM GABON! Olam Staff

NEW TEAM MEMBERS A growing corporate family

PHOTOS OF THE MONTH

D N

ear Colleagues, Dear Partners,

editorial

ovember significantly marks our relationship with Gabon as we celebrate two years after the signing of agreements with the Gabonese Republic. We are honoured to be one of the Republic of Gabon’s major partners and to contribute to Gabon’s march towards the “Emergence” goals. There are still many steps ahead of us, and we are committed to growing responsibly whilst creating mutual values. In two years, we have invested more than US$ 400 million (CFA 220 billion) and developed our projects in accordance with six Environmental and Social Impacts Assessment (ESIA) studies. We are concerned about our projects neighbouring livelihood and look forward to building long-term relationships with inhabitants of the Estuaire, Ogooue-Maritime, Woleu Ntem, Ngounie and Ogooue-Ivindo provinces, while increasingly involving them in project development through information exchange.

e have started a long journey along which tremendous projects are being built. They take time, motivation and effort. The Olam Gabon family has grown from 800 staff in 2011 to 3,200 today, the team is getting larger and stronger. What has been accomplished so far would not have happened without all our employees. They are the essence of Olam’s achievements and without them nothing would have been accomplished. Thanks to a hardworking team and a strong partnership with the Gabonese Republic, we have been able to deliver all projects on time, except Gabon Fertilizer Company due to the delay in getting the ESIA approvals.

T O

hese two years are only the beginning of a challenging but a bright future. We are pleased to look back and witness such achievements in this adventure though still in its early stage but certainly improving. n behalf of Olam, I would like to warmly thank the Gabonese people and the Government together with whom we lay the foundation of a solid and sustainable future.

Agenda END OF 2012 Payroll electronic system installed Rubber planting process started 240 hectares of nursery 2,000 hectares planted for our Palm activities GFC : Dredging and land filling started on plot F of Mandji’s Special Economic Zone Modernisation of our sawmill in Makokou

Gagan Gupta, Country Head

Key Numbers from october 2012

CFA 220 Billion 3200 1,200,000 2,196 650 1 already invested in Gabon

Olam employees in Gabon

rubber stumps in our nusery

hectares planted for Palm

GABON FLASH - OLAM GABON’S NEWSLETTER Directeur de la publication : Gaëlle Dupuis - 06 00 52 00 Comité de rédaction : Lauriane Guillemin - 06 00 51 99 Electronic version available on : www.insuu.com

solar lamps erected in 6 months

company has already started its activities in Nkok Special Economic Zone

Corporate News Franceville Country Meet : “We will make it happen!” Our ”Country Meet” gathered 97 members of the Country Team in Franceville. Team members discussed projects covered by Olam in Gabon, Gabon as a land of opportunities, in addition to achievements and issues faced by our teams across the country.

n September 8th and 9th, an interactive presentation allowed business units representatives to share their views and experience. The bilingual presentation touched upon the investments in Gabon and what the strategy for each project is. Discussions enabled all to take the floor and exchange ideas or concerns about the company and develop a sense of belonging as one corporate family.

hree team building outdoor activities were organized by a trai-

ning agency. The Country team was divided into 12 small groups who competed whilst challenging their team spirit, focus, speed, action planning, solidarity and interpersonal communication.

n the evening, local dancers and musicians made a vibrant and blazing performance adding a unique touch to this Country Meet. The reunion remarkably strengthened the professional ties of bright key players who usually work across 7 different sites in Gabon.

Team attending Franceville Country meet.

Palm and Rubber on the catwalk : Agricultural Exhibition Our stand at Gabon’s Agricultural exhibition attracts 230 visitors at Gabon-Expo.

From left to right : Mr. Adrien Nkoghe Essingone, 3rd VP of the National Assembly, Mr. Julien Nkoghé Békalé, Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Raymond Ndong Sima, Prime Minister, Mr. Georges Mboussougou, social communicator for Palm.

he National Agricultural exhibition took place from October 16th to 20th. Prime Minister, Raymond Ndong Sima did the traditional ribbon cutting before stopping by all stands and discussing with exhibitors. The national theme was ”agricultural cooperatives feed the world”, as this year, the international economic context is affected by the global rise of food prices. Informative stands covered

fields of agriculture, livestock and fisheries.

ur company took this unique opportunity to inform a wider audience on our Palm and Rubber projects. We had about 230 visitors, most of which were students and teachers.

GLOBAL NEWS

Olam wins the ‘Leadership in Sustainable Investment in Africa’ Award

lam has won this year’s Africa Investor - Leadership in Sustainable Investment in Africa of the Year Award, presented at the Investment and Business Leader Awards (in a ceremony held recently at Tokyo, Japan), as

part of the Africa Investor CEO Investment Climate Summit (Ai CEO Investment Climate Summit). The award recognises The Olam Livelihood Charter (OLC), which formalises the company’s long-standing commitment to investing in rural

communities in emerging markets and farmers across the globe.

News from the field: PALM First anniversary at Awala (Kango)

A year ago, Olam was giving birth to its first plantation of palm trees in Gabon

Awala kicked off with a first 7-month-oldseedling being planted by the President of the Gabonese Republic, His Excellency Mr Ali Bongo Ondimba. Our Awala plantation started with about 100 people and

has reached 945 people in 12 months. In the past 3 months we have been able to plant up to 820 hectares. We plan to complete 7,500 hectares of plantation in Awala by June 2013.

We will proudly remember September 10th 2012, the day the President came by our plantations in Mouila. During his tour in the southern part of hired about 600 workers to develop about Gabon (Lambaréné, Fougamou, Nden- 70 hectares of nursery i.e. 900 000 seeddé, Lebamba…) on September 10th, lings, now reaching 140 hectares of nurthe President of the Republic of Gabon, sery in Mouila. The planting process will His Excellency Mr. Ali Bongo Ondimba, begin in March 2013 and a total of 10,000 included our palm plantation as part of hectares should be planted by the end of his busy itinerary. His Excellency honou- year 2013. The plantable area was deterred us by planting the first palm tree of mined after the validation of the Environour plantation in Mouila and also ac- mental and Social Impact Assessment knowledged the large amount of work by all relevant authorities on the 1st of done. Over the past two months, we have August.

President Ali Bongo Ondimba honours us with his presence in Mouila!

H.E Mr. Ali Bongo Ondimba and Alida Dissielou Assistant Manager at Palm Mouila.

Bonding with Mouila’s populations Further to the Free Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) process, a social contract was signed between our company and Mouila’s communities representatives. This step marks the begining of our planting process on site. Since January 2012 public consultations have been sentatives from 8 different villages (the village Chiefs, organised by our company to make sure, with the help the Prefects, and the Presidents of Departmental of NGOs, village chiefs and consultants that the local Councils of Douya Onoye and Tsamba Magotsi). 500 populations are aware of the project’s impacts. In fact, solar streetlights have already been erected and are 800 ha of land were given up to 2 villages for their own operational around Mouila area. A total of 30 water plantation needs, furthermore ancient and sacred sites hand pumps have been approved by the Ministry of Oil, will be protected in respect to Native Customary Rights. Energy and Hydraulic Resources and are being instalAbout 50 people were present at the signature of the led by local subcontractors. social contract, including Olam delegates and 29 repre-

Mr. Michel Mouguiama, Governor of Ngounie signing social contract in Mouila - August 2012

Plantation in Mouila - October 2012

News from the field: RUBBER

Social contract is signed for 4,300 hectares in Bitam

Signature of Social contract

The signature of the Social contract allows us to start developping our activities on a first bloc of 4,300 hectares. The social contract covering 4,300 hec- leaders, attended the signing ceremony. tares, i.e. one bloc on the Western side of Between 2012 and 2013, 1,500 hectares the Nye River was signed on October 9th. for bloc 1 will be planted, production will This contract involved 7 villages: Okok, begin in 2018. Toulouse, Edoum, Nyazang, Woumou, Essong Milang and Ongongo Bibe Eba. The Free, Prior and Informed Consent process (FPIC) aims to reach an agreement between our company and the communities living around the project site. Within the 4,300 hectare-wide land covered in the social contract, 1,479 hectares were identified as protected areas and will not be planted, i.e. 34% of total area. 33 people including the Prefect of Ntem, Mr. Boniface Foungues and other community Social and comunication teams meeting Okok Villagers

Boxes of rubber stumps

Our Rubber nursery starts after rubber stumps aredelivered by air. The very first Rubber budded stumps start of the nursery.That operation requiwere delivered in Bitam on the 25th of red 360 boxes containing 150,000 RubJuly. They were brought by air all the way ber budded stumps ready to be bagged from Côte d’Ivoire to Douala, and were up in the nursery, within the 72 hours foldriven to their final destination in four lowing their arrival. trucks. This delivery is major as it set the

Rubber kicks off

Rubber nursery

A roof for our plantation workers A housing plan is currently being put in place to relieve workers based on site. A housing plan aims to provide private facilities to our workers across the country. We are currently experiencing the construction of 216 bedrooms split in three buildings and 40 supervisor units. To complete dormitories, two laundries, a 500-square-meter-dining-hall and its kitchen. Housing for management and 60 wood dormitories are also under construction. Dormitory on construction on our site near Okok.

Plantation in Bitam - September 2012

President visits Bitam - August 2012

News from the field: GABON SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE

The first ”Made in GSEZ” products are out Nkok’s investors have started their first constructions and productions.

Construction at Chaudronnerie du Gabon, GSEZ, Nkok.

“Thank you very much for your hospitality. It is heartening to see such an impressive and competent team put together by Olam. All the best .” A visitor from HSBC

In half a year we have welcomed about 600 visitors (potential investors, journalists, NGOs, partners, international organisations, national authorities…), some of which have given us feedback : “An impressive visit of this “emerging” site. It carries hope for a country such as Gabon that will develop using its countless natural resources in a sustainable manner.” A visitor from the World Bank

production will be orientated to export. Resurgent’s activities started on November 1st, only four months after the first foundations were placed. On site, Shinago and CDG (Chaudronnerie du Gabon) have started building their transformation factories. Our confirmed investors’ projects represent, so far, US$ 1.7 billion of Foreign Direct Investments.

One of Resurgent’s sawing machine, GSEZ, Nkok.

GSEZ, Nkok.

We have welcomed, over the last quarter, 8 confirmed customers whose projects will cover 14.7 hectares, the Special Economic Zone of Nkok now counts a total of 62 confirmed customers of which more than 40 are from the industrial sector. Resurgent is a Asian timber company which has built a sawmill, on site, with a processing capacity of 5,000 cubic metres per year. Around 20 employees will be needed to run the sawmill and the

SEZ under the spotlights

On the 4th of October, about 40 journalists visitited Nkok site and witnessed the progress done. Gabon Matin, L’Union, BBC, Télé Africa, La Griffe, Gabaon, RFI and many other important media organisations have accepted to jump on board and discover newly built infrastructures.

“Amazed with the progress! Congratulations!” A visitor from the US embassy Journalists visiting the Electrical distribution Main Receiving Substation, with Théophile Ogandaga, General Coordinator and Jasveer Singh, Head of GSEZ.

Foreign investors viewing SEZ’s model - August 2012

Nkok’s SEZ railway - November 2012

News from the field: TIMBER Forest feast

The utilisation of forest resources features strongly in Gabon’s history and we understand sites have special value for people as they represent their heritage. After the traditional process area mapping, access and development of activities require the observance of rituals and ceremonies. Between the 1st and 4th of August, This detailed process delocal populations from Okondja (Mafines areas of customary kokou) and Olam representatives raluse (sacred sites, areas lied to identify cultural and ancestral critical for subsistence sites within the exploitation area perfarming, etc). The ritual mitted by Timber’s operating licence. sacrifices symbolise a This participative meeting, followed request for blessings by festivities was handled by Benjafrom the spirits of the fomin N’nang Akare, social communirest. Designed members cator, Toussaint Ndong Abesssolo, of the community (Village botanist, Saint-Louis Ndongo, proschief of Bakwaka, and pector. 2 public figures coming Sacrifices were done in Cocomoifrom all 5 villages) invocala by representatives of five vil- Ritualisation with elected representatives of villages of Melondo- cate spirits for them to miole, Turwaya et Cocomoicala. lages (Cocomoicala , Melondomiole, give their consents and Turwaya, Makebe, Bakwaka). The ritualisation step was make sure work is successfully conducted in the area. completed after a concerted identification of important zones within the area defined by the operating permit.

Ongoing improvement of our production unit Our sawmill in Makokou is being modernised to increase the overall production by 50%.

The modernisation of one of our sawmills in Makokou will increase production as well as expand our product line which will eventually make us competitive on the European Market of hydraulic logs. We currently have two wood-processing plants. One is called Viana and is operational, the second one is called Shanghaï and is being modernised and should start producing again by December 2012. Both sawmills host two header saws and two board edgers. Viana has a processing capacity of 1,000 m3 per month. Schulte sawing machine being installed.

Viana in Makokou - August 2012

Shanghaï: New equipment delivered - November 2012

News from the field: GABON FERTILIZER COMPANY Fertilising Gabon’s growth

So far we have achieved the following for ESIA approval : • Phase 1, that allows us to prepare the land (clearing and construction of access roads). • Phase 2, that allows us to dredge and land fill. Gabon Fertilizer Company is a joint-venture • Phase 3, that allows us to start the main plan construction. between Olam International Ltd (62.9%), Phase 4, once acquired, will allow us to build water pipelines. the goverment of Gabon (12%) and Tata Chemicals (25.1%). The project is at its early stage, and is undergoing studies and seeking the required validations. Due to required in-depth technical, social and environmental studies on-site and off-site and changes in the project’s overall cost, the plant’s construction has experienced some delays. Before we can begin the construction of the Fertiliser plant, we must complete the Front End Engineering and Design (FEED), get the Environmental and Social Impacts Assessment (ESIA) validated by relevant authorities and conduct the Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) with local populations. The past months have marked a step forward for the ESIA and the FEED. The Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) took place between October 2011 and June 2012. This basic engineering plan is required for the establishment of the Open Book Estimate and the release of the Lum Sum Turnkey contract (an agreement in which a contractor designs, constructs, and manages a project until it is ready to be handed over to the client and operation can begin immediately.). Detailed engineering and construction can now begin. The ESIA is currently being carried out by consultants from URS Scot Wilson and Ecosphere. Last September the ESIA report was made publically consultable at the Direction Générale de l’Environnement (DGE).

Dredge and land filling on site - October 2012

Location of Site in Mandji’s SEZ

News from the field

Operational projects : Palm Number of employees in Awala (Kango)

955 employees

Number of employees in Mouila

968 employees. 600 employees joined over the last quarter

Number of hectares planted this quarter in Awala (Kango)

820 hectares have been planted in the last quarter, of total of 2190 hectares already planted

Number of hectares planted this quarter in Mouila

70 hectares of nursery’s total size of 140 hectares, i.e. 2,000,000 plants

Amount already invested

CFA 62 Billion i.e. US$ 122 million

Number of employees in Bitam

600 employees

Number of hectares planted this quarter in Bitam

410 hectares are under development

Amount already invested

FCFA 7.7 billion i.e. US$ 15.2 million

Rubber

News from the field GSEZ Number of employees in GSEZ

1375 direct and indirect employees

Area achieved

Phase 1 : 438 ha including roads and greens

Amount already invested

FCFA 147.5 billion i.e. US$ 292 million

Timber 350 employees

Number of hectares exploited in Makokou

555,000 hectares

Amount already invested

FCFA 3.5 billion i.e. US$ 6.8 million

ÂŠ Olam

Number of employees in Makokou

News from the field We have already invested FCFA 220 billion in Gabon, whilst devoting FCFA 986 million to social actions, since the begining of 2012. Those actions include the erection of solar street lights, the installation or rehabilitation of water hand pumps, the construction or rehabilitation of health care dispensaries and donations towards health and education.

Hectares already developped by Olam in Gabon (nurseries and plantations, every semesters)

Hectares

3500 3000 2500 Rubber

2000

Palm

1500 1000 500 0

Semester 1- 2012

Semester 2- 2012

Workforce

Employees

3500 3000 2500 2000

Workforce (including indirect jobs at Nkok's GSEZ)

1500 1000 500 0

2011

Semester 12012

Semester 22012

Across businesses

Focus on I.T.

Modernising and standardising Olam’s Business Operations using SAP

A total of 9 members from our team : Vinodanand Jha (IT head); IT Managers, Induprasad Nair and Rodrigue Mintsa Mengue, and IT Supports: Malick Pambou Mbokou Rangue, Brice Kenzam, Michel Nguema, Andreï Olago Mboumba, Parfait Edou (Bitam), Vivian Kombila (Mouila), Lionel Mezui Ogouta (Makokou) is working towards modernizing telecommunication means within the company. The IT Department’s ambitions will bring considerable improvement within Olam Group as well as technological development for Gabon’s Special Economic Zone. usiness Intelligence will be incorporated to the apew upcoming systems are being implemented to plication and enable us to have automatic data anastandardise business practices for the whole company’s resources (finance, material management, ac- lysis and graphs. countancy…). The System Application Products (SAP document Management system whereby all elecERP) that we are installing and implementing is the tronic documents will be stored in a central depolargest Entreprise’s Resource Planning software ever conceived. This multi-lingual SAP will cover operational sitary, is under execution. This document management processes from purchase acquisition to purchase order system will allow authorised employees to view, print, creation and reception of the material for Palm, Rubber, modify, copy or delete documents stored in the system. Timber and SEZ. This system is used worldwide and it A search engine will facilitate all research within the sysshould ease up everyone’s daily work as it will standar- tem. dize all business units’ administrative processes across sites in Gabon.

PayRoll SAGE Software implementation

Video conference switched ON

You may have experienced some misunderstanding with your pay check in Mouila. This was due to the introduction of a new Payroll sytem that will modernise our Human Resources Department ‘s daily and monthly tasks.

e are currently working towards improving our payroll system through the introduction of SAGE software, therefore automating payment proOlivier Aveyra is SAGE HRM cedures. The Project Manager implementation of this new process has resulted in a shift of cash and may have resulted, for a short amount of time, in unregular payments. The transition and the use of this brand new payroll system explains the inconvinience caused. 12

We have 7 locations across the country between which we need to maintain connectivity, and furthermore keep in touch with our headquarters and other Olam locations worldwide. Up to 5 locations can be called simultaneously for video and 4 locations for audio conference from Libreville. Bitam, Kango, Makokou, Mouila, Nkok and Port-Gentil will be provided with this service by end of November.

Document management system We should soon acquire a ”central depositary” where all electronic documents would be accessible under authorisation. We will be able to view, print, modify, delete or copy with a specified authorisation and traceability. Soon, moving out of our offices to get a practical document will be unnecessary, all will be able to access from their computers and accounts. Agribusiness Solution Value Chain

Actions from our partners Drill Watt : Our partner in providing access to basic needs

Drill Watt is one of our numerous local partners which help us meet our Corporate Social Responsibilities towards local communities. Drill Watt inatlls and rehabilitates water hand pumps around our sites. e aim to bring prosperity to hand pumps (as opposed to electriOther companies request our sercommunities we operate next cally activated pumps) as most vilvices with regards to their Corpoto, we wish to build long-term rela- lages lack electricity supply. All bore rate Social Responsibility. Nevertionships based on fairness and wells drilled in villages near Olam theless, Olam has been the only trust, and part of our social actions is (average of 20 metres depth) sites one so far to do an operation of such to provide access to water for com- have concrete liners to prevent them importance quantity-wise. Firms munities living around our projects. from contamination by seepage. would usually ask us to install two One of our Gabonese subcontrac- Furthermore, all pumps are hand- to three water pumps, Olam is plantors Drill-Watt installs and rehabili- powered, as opposed to more com- ning to cover about 100 villages and tates water hand pumps around our monly used foot pumps. This parti- wishes to cover more in the future”. project sites and ensures the good cularity makes usage easier for the quality of the water, for the benefit elderly and children (who represent o far, Drill Watt has drilled or of the communities. Drill Watt’s work the majority in most villages). rehabilitated 19 pumps. 11 drilis approved and monitored by the lings extra were achieved but hapMinistry of Oil, Energy and HydrauOur collaboration with Olam al- pened to be negative. In other terms, lic Resources. The enterprise works lows us, while doing a commercial despite our estimates there was no within our Corporate Social Res- operation, to contribute, at our level, water or we came upon a solid rock. ponsibility scope. to a common effort, and bring a vi- Fortunately, Gabon’s water tables tal input to rural populations” states are plentiful and frequently repleince July 2012, Drill Watt has Jean-Medard Madama, General nished by heavy rainfalls. been providing us with water Manager of Drill Watt.

“

”

”Olam has been the only one so far, to do an operation of such importance quantity-wise.”

Water pump in Okok, near Bitam, as part of Olam’s Corporate Responsability and Sustainability programme - September

Committing to Gabon Distributing medical kits

On September 18th, our teams in Kango organised a formal dinner with the village chiefs to share their grievance. It was the opportunity to discuss between local authorities and Olam representatives distributed medical kits to all 30 attendees. Medical kits were supplied by our partner, the First Lady’s Sylvia Bongo Ondimba Foundation which promotes Information, Prevention, Protection, Screening, Care and Respect (medical kits, condoms distribution). constructive discussion took and children, place between participants and Diarrhea medication for adults and Velan Mahadevan, our Awala plan- children, tations General Manager, Arun Parasitic worm drugs, Venkataraman, our Olam Palm Ga- A packet of oral rehydration salts for bon’s Sustainability Vice President, children, Ramesh Kumar, our Regional Mana- A thermometer, ger, Pearl Comlan, our Health & Sa- An illustrated leaflet on use and prefety Manager, Raphael Aouba, our cautions. Environmental and Social Impact/ RSPO Manager, Synclair Okoh, our acqueline Bindang Mengue, our Quality, Hygiene, Security, and Envinurse in Kango explained the ronment Manager, and of Hugues usage and precautions of all mediMaguena, Chief of Staff. cations and the necessity for all to check expiring dates before getting urther to our grievance exchange, medicated. medical kits were distributed with explanations by the medical nurse who works for the plantation workers in Kango. Kits are distributed to all women working in our plantations and to village chiefs. ach kit contained: Paracetamol syrup for children, Distribution of medical kits to female workers on Paracetamol pills for adults, plantations. Photo on the left: Speech of Dr Pearl Anti-malaria medication for adults Comlan (Occupational Doctor) in front of Village

Richard’s story: a retailer from Awala

Chiefs and representatives of Nsilé, Woubélé 1 and 2, Ayeme Bokoué 1 and 2n Agricole Centre and Agricole Frontière (near Kango).

Richard is a retailer working a few kilometers away from our plantations in Awala, right at the entrance. He tells us about the positive impact Olam has had on his business. hile the journey ahead of us is a long one, stands a small bedroom for his personal use “this the positive socio-economic impacts of our is where I live for the time being. But the Market is projects will increasingly become tangible. We are expanding, there will be more and more businesses committed to ensuring long term responsible growth settling around the area. I wish to open a small inn of all our projects in Gabon and their contribution one day, I believe truck drivers could become vato improving rural livelihoods. Richard is part of the luable customers”, he added. growing community living around our plantations and benefiting from the economic impact our projects have in several areas of the country. He owns a small store of second hand clothes, right at the entrance of Kango’s palm plantations.

“Olam workers are my main customers.”

sing. To provide their needs for clothing, he began selling a stock of second hand men shirts and jeans to workers heading to Palm crops or back home. “Olam workers are my main customers. When they get their salary paid, they come and treat themselves with some new clothes. I have Gabonese and expatriates coming to my store…”, Richard explained to us with a smile. In the back of his shop 14

ichard is a 55 year-old man who opened his R business about six months ago, when the number of workers in the plantations started increa-

Committing to Gabon 4,973 kids equipped for the year Olam Gabon distributes kits to children from neighbouring villages.

n our commitment to social welfare, we invest in community-based projects that improve the living conditions of our workers and their communities. Contributing to education is a key component of our social investment, as it is instrumental in multiplying chances of a brighter future for our workers’ families.

e would like to send special thanks to the social teams and their coordinators for this successful and tremendous task: - Rubber : Olivier Desmet, Sustainability and Certification Manager, Tatiana Eoua Social Manager, Fatoumata Alene Eba’s Social Manager and communicator, and Social communicators Emvo Ovono Parfait and Ayom he distribution of scholar kits started last month for Essono Franckie. villages near our Rubber, Timber and Palm projects. - Palm : Arun Venkataraman, VP for sustainability at 4,973 children from 20 villages around our Timber Olam Palm Gabon, Akornefa Akeya trainee for CRS site, 13 villages around our Palm sites, and 37 villages issues, Nina Koubahangoue Social Manager and around our Rubber site benefited from our company’s Communicator, and Social Communicators Christelle actions. Each bag contained an agenda notebook, a Moavele Atabi and Dieudonné Akessa in Mouila and box of colored pencils and coloured markers, 4 pen- Rapahael Aouba, RSPO Manager, Gyslaine Milebe, cils, a ruler, a compass, a pencil sharpener, 3 erasers Social Manager, and Social Communicators Georges and a retractable pen of 4 colours. For the youngest, Boussougou and Murielle Madjinou in Kango. schoolbags contained a water flask, a slate and some - Timber : Social communicators Olivia Dezona and chalks, as for the highest -classes (4th and 5th year) a Benjamin N’nang. pack of printer papers was added. - and coordinators Roselyne Chambrier and Monica Burlacu arents who attended the greeting ceremonies in schools welcomed the school kits with gratefulness and relief.

School of Nsilé (near Kango), where 165 pupils have received school supplies.

We are Olam Gabon! La Palme d’Or Some peers are nominated every month based on their achievements, hard work and overall outstanding performance. They are awarded with an Employee of The Month certificate. Amandine Ogouebandja, Mandji GSEZ Marketing Manager in Libreville Has played an important role along with Eric Bygodt in signing the loan agreement and raising $228 million for the first phase of Olam Palm Plantations. The debt was raised from BGFI, Afreximbank, EcoBank & BEDAC. Cedrig Bouessy, Assistant Manager, HCV in Awala (Kango)

Leads a team of HCV field assistants drawn from the villages around Kango for the last one year to demarcate and protect the buffer zones in the Awala plantation including camping for days in forest under rain and sun and has provided valuable data on bio-diversity.

Eric Bygodt, Head of Legal in Libreville

Has played an important role along with Amadine Ogouebandja in signing the loan agreement and raising $228 million for the first phase of Olam Palm Plantations.The debt was raised from BGFI, Afreximbank, EcoBank & BEDAC.

Henri Wora, Storekeeper in Awala (Kango)

Has shown great integrity and is very committed to his work. He has rigorously implemented new SOP on fuel receipt that occurs to be very economical for Olam.

Lauriane Guillemin, Communications in Libreville A good job was done in improving Olam communication with internal and external stakeholders.

Marie Paule Mazondomaya, Technical Team in Makokou

Takes up challenging roles and is very hardworking. Takes great care on what she does. She currently takes part in the mechanical aspect of our new production unit.

Parfait Edou, IT, Rubber BU in Bitam

A self motivated worker who is willing to work on everything assigned to him without complaining. He is passionate in all he does and his enthusiasm has been an example to other co-workers.

Rock Ella, Machine Supervisor in Nkok SEZ

He is a role model who joined Olam as an office boy. He showed keen interest to learn while working. He now supervises rental machines and controls gasoil consumption. Very dedicated and sincere person.

Roselyne Chambrier, Risk and Financial Analyst in Libreville

Has rigourously driven various value-added projects across the country.

Sasitharan Mathavan, Managing Director of Palm in Mouila

Has shown great leadership in bringing up the Mouila plantation and working in adverse conditions with no facilities whilst building a great team.

Portrait of Fatoumata Alene Eba’a, Social Manager and Communicator

Fatoumata is a 31-year-old colleague who lives and work in Bitam for our Rubber business unit. Fatoumata is originally from Oyem, and graduated in social psychology and environmental assessment. She happened to have shown interest in our projects when still at university as she conducted an independent study on the social and economic impacts of our Palm project in Mouila. Fatoumata’s everyday job greatly contributes to the sound development of our projects and improvement of social franchise. OLAM Communications : How long have you been working for Olam? Fatoumata: 5 months, I started in May. 16

OLAM Coms: Please describe your job role.

We are Olam Gabon!

Fatoumata: I am in charge of the social issues in the Rubber business unit. Along with two other members of my team, we travel to villages located near our rubber projects to meet populations and explain how our project’s implementation would impact on neighbouring locations. My main objective is to inform the communities about the project, reach a common understanding and obtain their consent. They usually do so after a Free, Prior, Informed Consent process has been conducted.

local communities’ expectations in the framework of a commitment from both parties, whilst ensuring that they understand what the company will not be able to OLAM Coms : What would you consider to be your greatest achievements?

Fatoumata : We have managed the Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) process for 4,300 hectares of the land granted to Olam Rubber. We have been working very hard since May, to successfully accomplish our mission and sign the social contracts with OLAM Coms: How would you describe a typical day on relevant authorities and populations representatives. duty? The amount of work was such that we had to divide the land into small Fatoumata: I usually head to blocs and proceed office, and then reach villages. with the FPIC I handle two departments Bischeme on one tam and Minvoul which reprebloc at a time. This sent not less than 32 villages. explains why we I usually divide my journey into have covered only three axes : one journey from 4,300 hectares of Bitam to Okok, second journey 28,000 hectares to Bikondom, third to Volosso that make up total Ville. It would usually take two area planned for Social communicators in Okok (Near Bitam) days to complete one journey. the crops. It is a two-way-communication. Our team may have important information to share but are then followed OLAM Coms : What are your top challenges ? by discussions. We take the time needed to listen to their enquiries and feedback. Fatoumata : Populations expect a lot from Olam, and sometimes beyond what was agreed in the social OLAM Coms: How many people do you interact with and contract signed by the communities’ representatives who are they? themselves. Requests may be domestic lighting, roads, electricity supply or schools and dispensaries Fatoumata: 192 people…Villagers have elected re- regardless of the National plan and mapping. We presentatives and spokespersons. In each village, I sometimes have to ask officials from the Ministry of interact with the Village Chief, the steering committee, Health or Education to intervene in discussions and the follow-up committee (only Bitam has a follow-up debates we encounter in villages. They would clarify committee). At times, for important releases, we ad- that some enquiries are under the purview of the dress them to all inhabitants of villages. Whenever we Government and any social project can only be effecproceed to the validation of an official document we, tively implemented if in line with the national school of course, we meet with Prefects and Deputy-Prefects and health mapping. Consequently, officials have to of departments as well as Presidents of Departmen- make alternative arrangements; this is why some protal Councils. We then report to Mr. Pascal Mathieu jects may take time. Olam reinforces basic infrastrucOlam’s Site In-Charge in Bitam and Mr. Olivier Des- tures but cannot fully commit if social projects are not met Olam’s Sustainability and Certification Manager. in line with the National mapping. Building a school and a dispensary where teachers and doctors are lacking would be inefficient. OLAM Coms: What do you like most about your job at Olam ? © Point Image

Fatoumata: As I talk with the populations I tend to learn so much. I try to fit in the communities… My job allows me to create a better mutual understanding, Near Mouila : Nina Koubahangoue, social communicator for Palm, talking to we try to respond and do whatever we can to meet villagers from Mutambe Sane Fumu

”My job allows me to create a better mutual understanding, we try to respond and do whatever we can to meet local communities’ expectations in the framework of a commitment from both parties.” 17

WELCOME

New Team members

Over the last three months, 31 people joined us at our Headquarters. Andreï OLAGO MBOUMBA IT Officer, in Libreville

Jérôme CASTAGNE Sales Director, in Libreville, for Timber

Arnaud OYIBA Payable Executive in Libreville

Keshab CHAUDHURI Purchase Manager, in Libreville

Caroline OZOUAKI Human Resources Assistant In Libreville, for Palm

Laurence ANGUE Accountancy assistant in Libreville, for Rubber

Cindy GIRARD BOUCHARD Purchase Assistant in Libreville, for Palm

Laurielle AGHOZANO Accountancy assistant in Bitam, for Rubber

Chamika GUNASINGHE Financial Manager, in Kango

Linda AZIZE DEJAN Receptionist, in Libreville

Gaëlle DUPUIS Head of Communications, in Libreville

Lionel MOUNGUENGUI Accountant in Libreville, for Palm

Grazuella TOVIGNON Human Resources Assistant in Libreville

Manish KUMAR Financial Manager, Bitam for Rubber

Herman KAMONOMONO General Coordinator of Agriprojects, in Libreville

Muriel OUBEMBI MAGUENA Assistant Logistics, in Libreville

Hervé SCHILT Chief Operating Officer, in Makokou

Nadège BEKALÉ Human Resources Manager, in Libreville

Iwan Dermawan DAMANIK Purchase & Logistics Manager for Palm, in Libreville

Ornela ONDENO Business Relations Interface Officer, Single Window Clearance, in Libreville

WELCOME

New Team members

Paola MEKUI BIYOGO Cartographer, in Libreville

Sanjay SHRIVASTAVA Head of Marketing GSEZ, in Libreville

Pascal MATHIEU Site In-charge of Bitam, for Rubber

Sant Saran GUPTA Head of construction for GSEZ, in Nkok

Patrice LOBET Head of Rubber, in Bitam

Sumith FERNANDO Financial Manager in Mouila, for Palm

Prashant REDKAR Administrative support, in Libreville

Sumit PARAB Administration Manager, in Libreville

René MENGHOME EYEGHE Chief of Staff, in Bitam for Rubber

Yvette BIVIGOU External Communications Executive, in Libreville

Rodrigue MINTSA MENGUE IT Manager for Infrastructure, in Libreville

Congratulations to Sandra Bayeni (Administration team), Audrey Bipanda (Accountancy team), Alvine Ouatata (GFC team), Marie Thérèse Nyangui (Administration team) and Eva Louembe (Palm) for their newly born babies.

For any enquiries or information sharing, please e-mail : gaboncoms@olamnet.com

Photos of the Month

Mouila’s Prefect, Mr. Herve P. Nguembe Diyembou, offers gift to Olam Gabon’s Country Head, Mr. Gagan Gupta, in recognition of gains brought by the ongoing Palm project to Mouila. Meanwhile in Bitam…

Do you know your company?

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What is the meaning of Olam ?

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Olam’ is a Hebrew word meaning “Transcending boundaries

What is Olam’s Logo rationale?

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The Olam Symbol and logo are unique. They were designed to represent the spirit of our company. It symbolises the growth of Olam and the outward looking focus of our business as a global multi-national company. 20

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