Wood- and rattan-based furniture exports may exceed RM10 billion next year

MUAR: The country’s wood- and rattan-based furniture exports can exceed the RM10 billion target next year if the worker shortage issue is adressed, says Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong.

He said although the industry requires about 20,000 foreign workers this year, it has only received 8,048 so far.

“The government, via several ministries including mine and the Home Ministry, is working towards meeting the industry’s needs for foreign workers,” he told reporters after visiting furniture makers in the district yesterday.

Mah said last year, wood- and rattan-based furniture exports stood at RM7.5 billion, and are expected to hit RM8 billion this year.

“The industry is currently shifting towards automation in furniture-making to reduce its dependence on foreign workers,” he said.

On the empowerment of local talents, Mah said his ministry has undertaken several initiatives to create more skilled workers in the industry, including the setting up of the Wood Industry Skills Development Centre in Banting, Selangor.

“The centre provides training and technical guidance for the industry, and to date more than 12,000 people comprising youths, industry workers and entrepreneurs have undergone training at the centre,” he said.

Mah said the ministry has also allocated RM2.5 million to empower the industry’s training and technical guidance programmes, as well as establishing smart partnerships with players.

In an effort to further expand the industry’s international markets, he said the Malaysian Timber Council (MTC) would set up an office in India.

“Last year, India imported RM1.89 billion worth of wood products from Malaysia and with the establishment of the MTC office in the country, Malaysia can further expand its market to countries such as Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh,” he added. — Bernama