KUCHING, March 21: Sarawak-made bamboo bicycles are expected to enter the market in mainland China this year.
Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) Datu Hashim Bojet said that a memorandum of understanding (MOU) and memorandum of agreement (MOA) will be signed between STIDC and a Chinese company, Brook & Breeze, to commercially market the bamboo bicycles to Shanghai, China.
“A subsidiary of STIDC will be given the responsibility to commercially produce the bicycles.
“Currently, Brook & Breeze has been producing bamboo bicycles for the China market for the past 10 years, but they do not have enough manpower to meet the demand,” he said in a news report by TVS today.
Hashim highlighted this at the closing ceremony and certificate presentation of the Bamboo Bicycle Intensive Course at the Heritage Furniture Industry Complex here on Monday (March 20).
He explained that the bamboo bicycles are made using local bamboo known as ‘Bambusa Nana’, which is known for its tensile strength and farmed in Sarawak.
“Brook & Breeze will determine the number of bamboo bicycles that need to be produced to be exported there at an estimated price of USD3,000 per unit, which is lower compared to USD4,000 per unit currently marketed by the company,” he pointed out.
Hashim added that for now, the Heritage Furniture Industry Complex will manufacture the bamboo bicycles, with the capability of producing 50 units per month.
“With the export plan, this will further increase the production capacity of the complex. This (achievement of producing bamboo bicycles for export) also coincides with the 50th anniversary of STIDC (this year),” he said. — DayakDaily
