By Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, Feb 13: Sarawak is aiming to step up its efforts to export more furniture products to increase its export value of less than RM100 million per annum, says Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.
He said the global market value of furniture was estimated to be USD557 billion in 2022 and was expected to increase every year to reach the forecasted value of approximately USD651 billion by 2027.
“(In terms of furniture exports) Malaysia only contributed about RM12 billion per annum while Sarawak contributed less than RM100 million per annum,” he said during Sarawak Design Week Exhibitors’ Night at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here earlier tonight.
Awang Tengah, who is also the Second Minister for Natural Resources and Urban Development and Minister of International Trade, Industry and Investment, further said to meet the requirements, the Sarawak government, through Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC), has embarked on a furniture design programme through Kursi Pusaka in Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas).
This is where STIDC and Unimas have collaborated with Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) and the timber industry to implement the Sarawak Young Designers’ programme (SayD’signers) to develop and groom young designers from local universities.
“This programme is also in tandem with our aspiration to produce more high-value-added products for the export market.
“This initiative is poised to boost our annual export earnings from RM4 billion presently to RM8 billion by 2030,” he added.
Therefore, he hoped Sarawak Design Centre (Saradec), a wholly owned subsidiary of STIDC, would continue to enhance the young designers’ capability and capacity by pursuing strategic collaboration with higher learning institutions and research institutes both locally and internationally.
Amongst those present were Saradec chairman Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais; STIDC general manager Datu Hashim Bojet; Saradec chief executive officer Dayang Nena Abang Bruce; and Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia in Kuching, Raden Sigit Witjaksono. — DayakDaily
