DEPUTY Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan received a courtesy call by a delegation from Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Complex on Monday (May 23).
Led by the head of ITB, Dr Imam Santosa, the objective of the courtesy visit is to discuss with Awang Tengah on the progress of the Sarawak Young Designers (SayD’Signers) Furniture Training Programme and the SayD’Signers’ Incubator Programme implemented in collaboration with ITB management team.
In a press conference after the courtesy call, Awang Tengah said that the collaboration between Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) and ITB would further enhance the skills of Sarawakians, especially in furniture design.
“This collaboration will support the growth of Sarawak’s furniture industry and increase exports of value-added products including furniture from Sarawak to reach the target of RM6 billion by 2030,” he said.
Awang Tengah, who is also the Second Minister for Natural Resources and Urban Development added that students from the state who have attended training at ITB have also worked in furniture companies in Sarawak.
“In fact, several companies have also agreed to manufacture and commercialise furniture designs produced by these students. This is the result of Sarawak Young Designers,” he said.
He added some of the products used local wood resources such as planted forest, acacia wood, and others.
STIDC developed the SayD’Signers furniture training programme since 2018 to train fresh graduates in furniture design in supporting the growth of the state furniture industry as well to increase the export of value-added products including furniture from Sarawak.
Since then, there have been five student intakes with 32 fresh graduates trained in this programme.
On Sarawak’s advantage, he said that the state has its own arts, culture, heritage, and with these elements of motif and timber combined, the state is able to produce unique products.
“The Sarawak government will commercialise the furniture product, and at the same time also intends to promote the crafts in international markets or expos.
“So, we will continue this programme and our cooperation between STIDC and ITB,” said Awang Tengah.
