SIBU: Sarawak’s total timber exports and timber products in 2017 were valued at RM6.13 billion, of which RM46.7 million came from furniture and its components.
“I am very happy that Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) has proven its capability and efficiency in facing various challenges and has undergone a transformation process according to the current development trend to a position that puts the timber industry as one of the contributors to Sarawak socio-economic development.
“Forestry and timber industry issue in this decade is seen as a global issue that attracts the world as it faces many international challenges that include trade, sustainability and legality. Among them are smuggling, illegal logging, and global warming.
“Thus, it is my hope to see the industry move fast and continue to grow sustainably so that it can help maximise contributions to the development of the country which is currently the fourth contributor to Sarawak’s income,” said Assistant Minister for Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Datu Len Talif Salleh during the STIDC 45th anniversary celebration dinner held at one of the leading hotels in Sibu on Tuesday night.
According to Len, STIDC is also responsible for the development in Tanjung Manis, which is now known as Tanjung Manis Growth Area (TMEGA). “This year Tanjung Manis is 28 years old and has grown from the mangrove forest area into a town and has been upgraded as Tanjung Manis District on August 1, 2015 and has been equipped with a variety of basic amenities and facilities.
“It has a strategic location with a natural deep seaport equipped with an integrated complex aspirated to become an Industrial Port City by 2030,” Len explained.
The accumulated investment value in Tanjung Manis is almost RM2 billion from the state government, he said while private sector investment is expected to increase with the start of the shipping industry, Palm Oil Cluster Industry (POIC), and the halal hub industry estimated at not less than RM2 billion. He added that various existing economic and industrial activities in Tanjung Manis include timber industry, halal industry, shipbuilding industry, deep-sea fishing industry, POIC, oil and gas industry, aquaculture industry, food processing industry, and others.
Meanwhile, Len also said that the State government has already spent RM1 billion to build water facilities in Tanjung Manis. Apart from that, he said STIDC has also sought to upgrade Tanjung Manis Airport so that larger aircraft such as the ATR can landing in Tanjung Manis to accommodate more passengers to Tanjung Manis.
The direct impact of ongoing and planned developments will improve the living standards of the locals by providing employment and business opportunities, he added. In addition, he said the state government provides entrepreneurship programmes through agencies such as entrepreneur development units of the Chief Minister’s Department, CIDB, STIDC, Agricultural Department, Mardi, Sarawak Skills Development Corporation (PPKS) and so on. He also said that various types of funds had also been established by the Federal and State governments such as Putera, Tekun, and AIM which aimed at helping Bumiputera entrepreneurs become professionally and proficient in all aspects of entrepreneurship.
Assistant Minister of Corporate Affairs Abdullah Saidol, STIDC General Manager Hashim Bojet, Mukah Resident Hamidah Baki, STIDC Deputy General Manager Dayang Nena Abang Bruce and others were among those present.
