Awang Tengah (centre) speaking at the press conference. Also seen are (from left) Wan Lizozman, Naroden, Len and Hashim. Photo by Muhammad Rais Sanusi
KUCHING: The upcoming Sarawak Timber & SMEs Expo 2019 to be held at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here from June 27 to 30 is expected to generate direct cash sales of around RM7 million.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said this year’s expo, which is now in its fourth edition, is also anticipated to attract a higher rate of participation from domestic and international exhibitors, as well as more than 15,000 visitors.
“To date, we have registered more than 200 local and international exhibitors and we will also have the participation of companies from India, Indonesia and Brunei,” he told a press conference at a leading hotel here today.
Jointly organised by the Ministry of Industrial and Entrepreneur Development and the Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation’s (STIDC), the expo, he said, is a trade and consumer fair organised with the aim of providing a platform for timber manufacturers and non-timber SMEs players to exhibit and promote trade and sales of their products.
“It is a platform for local and international manufacturers to showcase and highlight the finest furniture and new editions of products.”
Awang Tengah, who is also Second Urban Development and Natural Resources Minister, pointed out that as a ‘one-stop centre’, the expo is an ideal avenue for both buyers and suppliers of timber and non-timber related products and services to source for products and establish networking with potential local and foreign buyers and investors.
“The main attractions of this year’s expo will be the recreation of the House of Acacia and the Bamboo Gallery, both of which are part of STIDC’s continuous effort to increase awareness in the utilisation of Acacia wood and bamboo in the manufacturing and furniture industry.”
Also running concurrently with the Sarawak Timber & SMEs Expo 2019 is the inaugural Sarawak Design Conference & Expo 2019 to be held on June 27 and 28 at the same venue.
“This event is targeted at creating awareness on the importance of design in the timber and SMEs industry in Sarawak in line with the Pool of Young Designers (Poyod) training programme implemented by STIDC since 2018.
“During the launch of this expo on June 27, we will also witness the launching of three local furniture brands by three furniture manufacturers who participated in Poyod and they are ‘Ideas’ by Samling, ‘Starhome’ by Shin Yang and ‘GWI’ by Giovanni Wood Industries Sdn Bhd,” said the Industrial and Entrepreneur Development Minister.
Also present at the press conference were Assistant Minister of Entrepreneur and Small, Medium Enterprise (SME) Development Datuk Naroden Majais, Assistant Minister of Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Datu Len Talif Salleh, Ministry of Urban Development and Natural Resources permanent secretary Datu Dr Wan Lizozman Wan Omar and STIDC general manager Hashim Bojet.
For further information on the expo, please visit www.sarawaktimbersmeexpo.com.my.