MIRI: The State’s timber industry has experienced the impact of global downturn, said Assistant Minister for E-Commerce Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais.
For the period of January to August 2018, the timber exports products showed a decrease of 14.19 per cent or RM3.6 billion compared to RM4 billion in the same period of 2017.
He explained that it was due to the less favourable global economic climate which affects the performance of timber trade in the global market.
Meanwhile, the timber industry in the Northern Region of Sarawak has continued to strive to become the vital players in contributing towards the State’s income in the industry.
Naroden said that the export value for the Northern Territory was at RM2.3 billion, which is 65 per cent of the State’s total export value of timber products.
“The value of this export indicates the strength of Northern Region’s timber industry players in contributing to Sarawak’s income,” he said during the Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (Pusaka) 45th anniversary dinner at Pullman Waterfront here on Tuesday night.
Amongst the Northern Region’s timber export earnings that top the chart were plywood with export value at RM800 million followed by timber (RM300 million) and sawn timber (RM 265 million) during the period from January to August 2018.
He also pointed out that majority of Sarawak’s plywood was exported to Japan.
He added that Pusaka through its industrial transformation programme has devised several activities for the Northern Region to further strengthen the timber industry.
“Amongst the activities planned are to promote the use of acacia species furniture products in partnership with Samling company with the creation of “Acacia House”; planning a reduction depending on natural timber through forest plantation; creating more collaborations with industry to make the transformation plan of the Sarawak timber industry a success.
“These planning and implementations are to ensure the sustainability of raw material resources,” said Naroden.
In addition, the State has been encouraging the timber industry to enhance the production of raw materials in an innovative way by increasing the value of wood products.
He also revealed that PUSAKA and Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on bamboo research and development.
He added that the MoU aimed at enhancing cooperation in order to improve knowledge and expertise in the field of cultivation, management, harvesting, development and treatment of bamboo products.
“This project will be implemented at Sabal Forest (in Gedong, Sarawak),” said Naroden.
Earlier, Pusaka Sarawak General Manager, Hashim Bojet urged the organisation (Pusaka) to continue to be responsive and sensitive to the ever-changing issues and needs of its stakeholders.
Therefore, he said that all Pusaka Sarawak staff needed a paradigm shift to equip themselves with knowledge and skills to stay at the forefront in timber development industry.
Also present were Lambir State Assemblyman, Ripin Lamat, Pusaka Sarawak Deputy General Manager, Dayang Nena Abang Bruce, Pusaka Northern Region acting Deputy Manager, Dahrawi Muhammad, industry players and stakeholders.
