Timber industry players encouraged to explore planted forestry, downstream industries and value-added products

SIBU: The government is seriously encouraging timber industry players to venture into planted forestry as the commodity supply from natural forests is shrinking.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan views this move as significantly reducing the reliance on natural forests.

According to him, Sarawak is embarking on downstream industries and value-added timber product manufacturing by utilising the planted timber in line with the present government policy.

“As the types of timber obtained from planted forests are different from those in natural forests in term of their properties, there will be a need to undertake research and development (R&D) work to engineer the timber into engineered wood that can be used in the downstream industries.

“Sustainable design advocates recommend using engineered wood, which can be produced from relatively small trees rather than a large piece of solid dimensional lumber, which requires cutting down a large tree.

“This is where our planted timber species would come into play,” he said before launching University College of Technology Sarawak (UCTS)’s new programme, the Bachelor of Technology (Hons) in Wood Processing, and also the Centre of Excellence in Wood Engineered Products (CeWEP), here yesterday.

The CeWEP is a collaboration between UCTS, Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) and Sarawak Timber Association (STA).

Awang Tengah, who is also Minister of Industrial and Entrepreneur Development, pointed out that Sarawak is the second largest contributor to foreign exchange earnings in terms of wood and timber products. He said the production of wood reached more than seven million cubic metres last year.

However, he noted that the state’s downstream processing industries are still focusing on primary products such as sawn timber, plywood and veneer.

“In line with our master plan to go downstream and into more value-added products, the state has come up with a policy of reducing exports of logs to 20 per cent, and increase the log usage to 80 per cent for downstream processing,” he said.

On the new programme and CeWEP, Awang Tengah said these mark another milestone in the state’s endeavour towards raising the standard of its wood products in meeting global requirements.

He said the presence of qualified and skilled manpower is crucial to the development of Sarawak timber and its downstream industries.

“The implementation of the new programme will be able to increase the availability of skilled manpower in timber-based processing sector in Sarawak.

“As the minister-in-charge of natural resources, I fully support the introduction of this programme by UCTS,” said Awang Tengah, also the Second Minister of Urban Development and Natural Resources.

On CeWEP, he said its establishment is timely in that it would focus on R&D work on engineered wood from planted forest species.

“CeWEP is expected to contribute to the development of advanced engineered wood products in the timber industry in Sarawak and utilisation of the products in the construction industry,” he said.

Awang Tengah also said the efforts undertaken by UCTS in introducing the new programme and establishing CeWEP would require the support from all stakeholders.

“I would like to encourage all timber industry players to come forward and work together with the government to ensure that our timber industry will continue to be a major industry in Sarawak, alongside many others,” he said.

The ceremony was witnessed by UCTS vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Abdul Hakim Juri, STIDC general manager Datu Sarudu Hoklai and STA permanent council member Temenggong Dato Vincent Lau.

Source:
courtesy of THE BORNEO POST

by Conny Banji

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