MWIA, Guangxi Association Sign MoU To Collaborate On Timber Trade

KUALA LUMPUR, April 13 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Wood Industries Association (MWIA) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Guangxi Forestry Industry Trade Association to promote collaboration and exchange of information between the two countries on timber trade. MWIA President, Low Kian Chuan, said the collaboration would create an information-sharing platform to strengthen cooperation on market development, technology, human resources, management and trade for mutual benefits. "The collaboration would also optimise the association member's resources in planting as well as trading sawn timber, veneers and wood-working machineries," he said at the Malaysian Wood Industries Association 60th Anniversary Dinner here Wednesday. The event was officiated by Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Mah Siew Keong. Low said the MOU also included training and transfer of relevant technologies in sawn timber processing, panel product development and Eucalyptus plantation, based on the needs of both association. He also said last year, MWIA, with the financial assistance of Malaysia Timber Council, had initiated a Raw Material Programme in Nanning, China. The programme enabled MWIA members to study the feasibility and the potential in planting Eucalyptus trees in Peninsular Malaysia. "Based on the outcome of the mission, both entities will be working together on the Eucalyptus plantation in Malaysia," Low said. MWIA had also signed an MOU with Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Forestry Research Institute to start a Eucalyptus plantation in Malaysia. The MOU would also see both associations setting up a plant in Malaysia to produce the specialised fertilizer and to provide professional technical services in support of the development of Eucalyptus plantation industry in Malaysia. Meanwhile, Mah said, the government had implemented various initiatives and programmes, as well as having regular dialogues with the industry players and relevant stakeholders to further strengthen the timber industry through its agencies, as outlined in the National Timber Industry Policy. In 2016, the export of timber and timber products was valued at US$4.94 billion (RM21.86 billion) and it was the third most important commodity after palm oil and rubber, Mah said. --BERNAMA