The Malaesyan wood industry is ready to adapt to European standards regarding the certification of tropical wood products, declared the chief of the Wood Federeation of Great Britain, Rachel Butler.
She added that the industry that practices a sustainable development in legal terms will grow faster than the industry of other tropical countries, which allows Malaesya to stand out from countries like Indonesia, Brazilia and Africa.
“Malaesya is a treditional market for the UK, but because non-governmental organisations are forced to have verified and certificated products, people are searching for other alternatives to Malaesyan wood” spune Butler who was a member of the European delegation in Sarawak.
The trip was organised by the Sarawak Timber Development Corporation together with the Malaesyan Timber Council.
Butler stated that this trip was a great opportunity for foreign jurnalists to present the real situations that organisations face on this market.
“Wood is a comfortable product which means that people place price before quality”.
Michele Eleoli, representant of the Italian Wood Federation said that she will recommend Italian companies to invest here, to build plants, considering how hard it is to find a good work force in their native country.
Eleoi trusts that, Italy, that hes imposed wood certifications for importers, will buy wood from Malaesya because of the smaller costs, in comparisson to the costs on the Indonesian market.
Currently, trading ith Malaesyan wood has accounted for 4-6% of the toal hardwood imports.
In Holland, traders has to make sure that all the used wood is provided from sustainale and legal sources. This would be advantageous for Malaesya, stated Bert Kattenbroek, member of the Dutch Joinery Assoiation.
Having 250 member companies which consume 120 000 cubic metres of tropical owood/year, he added that 40-50% came from Malaesya.
In promoting the Malaesyan wood industry in Europe, MTC is aiming on understading its complexity. “It is an important source of income and it contributes with 4.5% to the country`s internal growth, thus, it is not neglectable”, said Rachel Butler, adding that the wood industry also offers jobs and improves the econoical status of a country, by selling the products abroad.
Source: www.news.google.com |
