Make Quantum Leap Into Technology Driven Value-Added Products, Timber Industry Told

From Nurul Hanis Izmir JOHOR BAHRU (Johor, Malaysia), Sept 9 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian timber industry should make the quantum leap into high-technology-driven value-added products to attain exponential growth as well as compete with its regional peers. "We should now start to focus not only on promoting the (raw) commodity but also its final products, using high technology," said Malaysian Timber Industry Board's (MTIB) Director-General, Dr Jalaluddin Harun, here Tuesday. Other ASEAN countries, namely Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, were also producing timber and timber products for the region and beyond, he said. "The future modern technology in timber industry is in the IBS, or industrialised building system, a revised version of the old pre-fabrication technique, which should be tapped on. "We can convert the timber into timber IBS and then export it," he told reporters during a media visit to Glue-Laminated Timber (Glulam) Gallery here. The Glulam Gallery is built on 1.98 hectares owned by MTIB. In 2012, Malaysia Book of Records recognised it as the first building that completely used the Glue-Laminated Timber for its structure. Jalaluddin also urged the private and public sectors to collaborate and develop technologies that used less manpower as well as reduce cost. MTIB expects US$5.10 billion (RM22 billion) from export of timber and timber products this year. Last year, the exports of timber and timber products recorded a higher revenue of US$476.10 million (RM20.5 billion) from US$4.48 billion (RM19.3 billion) in 2013. The top five destinations for exports last year were Japan, US, European Union, India and Australia. --BERNAMA