KUCHING: Sarawak is learning from Indonesia how to develop and produce bamboo products, revealed Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) general manager Hashim Bojet.
Indonesia, he pointed out, had already developed its bamboo products and sold them in the international market.
“Hopefully, with the collaboration from Indonesia, Sarawak is able to produce its own bamboo products and sell them globally in the future,” he added while visiting participating entrepreneurs of the timber industry at the Sarawak Timber & SMEs Expo 2019 being held at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) yesterday.
On the state’s plan to set up a Sarawak Design Centre, Hashim commented it would provide a motivational push for entrepreneurs in the state.
He added that the design centre would encourage entrepreneurs to create and produce more creative products for the international market.
In conjunction with the Sarawak Timber & SMEs Expo 2019 which began on June 27 and ends today, STIDC in collaboration with Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) and Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) Indonesia held the first Sarawak Design Conference here from June 27-28.
The two-day conference, supported by the Consulate General Office of Indonesia in Kuching, aimed to create interest in designs among local manufacturers and position designs as an essential component in the timber industry.
Hashim said this year’s Sarawak Timber & SMEs Expo was quite unique as it showcased a lot of Acacia and bamboo products.
“Every year, we see a lot of new products from the timber industry and the local small and medium entrepreneurs (SMEs).
“The expo aims to highlight or promote the utilisation of Acacia and bamboo as alternatives to natural timber or as new materials in creative innovations in the industry,” he explained.
Hashim added that the expo also provided the perfect platform for SMEs to market their products globally.
“As mentioned by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, we have to look at the packaging and branding of the products before they can be marketed worldwide.
“Products of Acacia, bamboo and the SMEs have the potential to be marketed globally,” he said.
Hashim was optimistic that the Sarawak Timber & SMEs Expo 2019 which ends today would attract more visitors.
