Timber industry needs to innovate to keep up – CM

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Abang Johari waters ‘digital tree seedlings’ to symbolically launch the Stakeholders Consultation on the Proposed Forestry Policies meeting. Photo by Muhamad Rais Sanusi

KUCHING: The Sarawak timber industry has to transform structurally from primary processing to producing higher value-added products like bioplastic, biofuel, pulp and paper, engineered wood, and furniture, says Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.

He believed that for this transformation to materialise, it is necessary and vital for the industry to embark on changes in a drastic and innovative manner.

He noted that in by the year 2030, about 60 per cent of the export value of timber and timber products in Sarawak will be from high value products like engineered wood and furniture.

“As the production of logs from natural forests is declining, the industry would need to undertake a retooling and re-engineering process within their mills and timber operations.

“This is in line with the changes on the type of raw materials available in the future such as timber from planted forests, which has different physical characteristics from that of a natural forest,” he said at the Stakeholders Consultation on the Proposed Forestry Policies opening ceremony here today.

Abang Johari said other key areas that needed to be considered and looked into are promotion, research and development (R&D) programme, capacity building, and the use of new technology to enhance quality and efficiency, especially in downstream processing.

The Stakeholders Consultation Session is jointly organised by the Ministry of Urban Development and Natural Resources, Forest Department, Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC), Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) and Harwood Timber Sdn Bhd and supported by Sarawak Timber Association (STA).

Attended by government agencies and timber industry players, the objective of the consultation session is to seek input from stakeholders on proposed forestry policies and on implementation mechanisms.