By Tamimi Omar
The Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry expects furniture exports to reach RM10 billion by 2017 from RM7.67 billion registered in 2012, said its minister Datuk Peter Chin.

“The government is confident that total furniture exports will hit RM10 billion by 2017 – a possible feat considering that the local furniture industry employs a technological production capacity, and is actively seeking market expansion and adopting strong promotional efforts,” he said.

Speaking to reporters after gracing the Export Furniture Exhibition (EFE) 2013 in Subang on March 6, Chin said international furniture fairs contributed about 40% towards the nation’s annual total furniture exports.

“The growth trend for 2003, 2004 and 2012 had been positive, so 2013 should also be on the upward trend,” he said.

Furniture exports for Malaysia for 2003, 2004 and 2012 amounted to RM6.16 billion, RM7.23 billion and RM7.67 billion, respectively.

“With wood being the main raw material in furniture manufacturing, the government’s main concern is to ensure the continuous supply of timber,” Chin said.

He said the government had taken steps to remedy the limited supply of wood by investing RM200 million to plant rubber trees in an area of 25,000ha.

Chin said a special purpose vehicle – Forest Plantation Development Sdn Bhd – under the Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry had been created to carry out the programme.

Chin said the programme would start this year and be spread out in several states, including Sabah, Sarawak, Johor, Pahang and Terengganu.

“We expect the first batch of 25,000ha to be harvested in 2021,” Chin said.

He said for the moment, the government had taken other steps, such as banning the export of rubber wood and increasing imports of trees from Indonesia to meet the growing demand.