The opening of the seminar which took place on 4 August was officiated by the Secretary General of the Natural Resources and Environment (NRE) Ministry, Y.Bhg. Dato’ Zoal Azha Yusof on behalf of the Minister, Y.B. Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas.
Also present were the FRIM Director General (DG) Dato’ Dr Abd Latif Mohmod, Deputy DG Dr Abdul Rahim Nik and Seminar Organising Committee Chairperson Dr Norini Haron.
The objective of the seminar was to disseminate the latest market development, investment opportunities, national timber industry policy, government financial assistance scheme, and research and development (R&D) findings on the wooden furniture industry to stakeholders who would like to see the sector continue to flourish and contribute to sustainable development of the industry and the nation.
The two-day seminar and exhibition also provided a good opportunity for the forest-industry personnel, policy-makers, forest managers, government and non-government representatives, trade association members, machinery and equipment manufacturers, forestry consultants, members of corporate and financial sectors, researchers, and other stakeholders in the wooden furniture industry to:
Discuss issues in the wooden furniture industry and trade;
and
Explore, exchange, and update scientific and technological findings, challenges and opportunities related to the wooden furniture industry.
In conjunction with the event, two FRIM-ITTO technical reports entitled, “Current and Future Supply of and Demand for Rubberwood in Malaysia” and “Wooden Furniture Industry Productivity, Cost of Production for Certain Selected Products, Primary Input Content and Policies for Sustainability” respectively were also launched.
In addition, 45 of the seminar participants also joined the industrial visit conducted by the organising committee on 6 August to Seng Yip Sdn. Bhd. located in Semenyih and Samling Housing Products Sdn. Bhd. in Port Klang.
