KUCHING, May 21 (Bernama) -- Exports of timber products in Sarawak rose by 17.2 per cent to RM1.91 billion for the first quarter (Q1) of 2012 compared with RM1.63 billion for the same period last year.

Minister of Environmental Planning and Resource Management Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan said the growth was due to the increase in demand for logs, plywood and sawn timber.

He said the total export for all three products combined recorded an increase of 18.1 per cent from RM1.44 billion in Q1 of 2011 to RM1.7 billion during the same period this year.

"The government continues to encourage the timber industry to strengthen its position in the global market and this year, through the Sarawak Timber Industry Corporation's (PUSAKA) mission, in collaboration with other agencies to increase investment and sell Sarawak timber to South Korea and India," he said during the wind-up session for his ministry at the Sarawak State Assembly here today.

According to him, the mission had received encouraging response from importers and buyers from Korea and India with RM41 million total trade done.

Source:BERNAMA

Posted and edited by Riona,Hanbao News Department

Contact: rionach@cltimber.com