KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Trade and Industry Ministry has established a task force to look into timber industries for a more holistic and sustainable actionable initiatives, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau.
Tangau, who is also the State Trade and Industry Minister, said the task force would revisit strategic thrusts to increase the supply of sustainably produced logs and raw materials to attract more high-value downstream industries.
“The temporary log ban, restructuring to see how raw materials are best utilised, the efficacy of the present structure in terms of log harvesting and supply to local market and developing further downstream processing are some of the studies currently undertaken by the ministry.
“Going forward, we need a strong team of downstream and upstream players to work together in articulating new policies, in line with the state government’s aspirations.
“Our measurable output and matrices shall be employment growth, value-added products and the Gross Domestic Product, we shall be monitoring those closely,” he said at the installation of Sabah Timber Industries Association (STIA) new committee members for term 2018-2020 here, today.
Also present was STIA President Chua Yeong Perng.
Tangau added the state government would also revisit strategies and actionable initiatives to address issues related to the timber industry, and adopt a more holistic approach for the timber industry to flourish. – Bernama