By Christopher Lidom
KUCHING, Aug 27: Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) targets RM4 billion in earnings from the value-added furniture industry by 2030.
STIDC general manager Datu Hashim Bojet said to achieve this, STIDC and Sarawak Furniture Industry Association (SFIA) are collaborating with Muar Furniture Association (MFA), which is the largest furniture hub in Malaysia that contributes more than 60 per cent (RM7 billion) of the national export earning of RM12.7 billion in 2021.
“The collaboration explores how MFA can expand their operations to Sarawak and help increase furniture production for the export market.
“The opportunity for us to develop the furniture industry in Sarawak is huge because we have a large supply of raw materials, especially acacia and eucalyptus wood species,” he said in a press conference held at a local hotel here today.
Hashim noted that Sarawak plans to develop two furniture parks totalling about 146 hectares in Demak Laut in Kuching and Tanjung Manis in Miri.
He said the purpose is to expand and develop the furniture industry in the State to export RM4 billion worth of furniture to the international market.
He also said in the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, STIDC planned to develop the furniture park under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP).
“If there is an urgent need in this industry, we will speed up this development later,” he added.
Yesterday (Aug 26), MFA paid a courtesy call to Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan at his office in Wisma Sumber Alam to convey their interest in exploring investment opportunities and business prospects in the proposed furniture parks in Sarawak. — DayakDaily
