S’wak sees increase in export of timbers products

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KUCHING: The state registered an increase of 15.6 per cent for the export of timber products, which translates into RM5.60 billion for the first three quarters of 2010, as compared to RM4.75 billion in the same period last year.

EXCELLENT, KEEP IT UP!: Awang Tengah (second left) handing over an award to one of the recipients while Sarudu (left) looks on.

Second Planning and Resouce Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan said that apart from that, the state’s main wood product exports such as timber, plywood and sawn timber, in the same period had increased 20 percent from RM4.15 billion in 2009 to RM4.98 billion, this year.

“The upward surge is mainly due to the increase in demand by traditional markets such as Japan, China, Taiwan, India, United States and middle east countries.” he said.

“This year, the total export of the state’s wood products is expected to reach RM7 billion if the demand was stable until the end of the year,” he said at the Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) Excellence Award dinner here, on Thursday night.

According to Awang Tengah, in line with the positive demand, the government had taken proactive measures to tackle issues in relation to procedures of exporting goods and product standards, in an effort to strengthen the international market level.

“The government also had decreased the royalty rates from RM65 metres to RM50 metres, the extension of royalty payment from 14 days to 90 days and even lax in terms of timber quotas, apart from more activities to stimulate export,” he explained.

On a related matter, Awabf Tengah said that the government is promoting direct investments by local and foreign companies in the processing of wood species in forest farm.

“Among the industries with the potential to be developed derived from forest farms were pulp and paper, furniture industry and plywood.

Tengah later said from the proper management of forests, the wood industry in the state had become the third biggest income earner in exports for the state.

Awang Tengah also reminded staff members of STIDC to increase their level of individual and organisational competency.

“In the era of technological advancement, we need to master various skills which will assist in improving the level of professionalism, while prioritizing the ‘value for money’ principle.

He lauded the efforts by STIDC to improve the quality of service through the application of ICT such as introducing the ‘e-Permit’,’e-REGNET’,’e-GRADING’ and ‘e-IPR’.

Also present were STIDC general manager Datu Sarudu Hoklaim, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Planning and Resource Managment Datu Wan Alwi Dato Sri Wan Hashim, State Forestry Department director Datu Len Talif Salleh and Sebuyau assemblymen Julaihi Narawi.