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By
CHEAH CHOR SOOI
Primary Industries Minister Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik will lead a
two-week timber mission to Germany, Belgium, Norway, Sweden and Denmark
from May 26.
In Germany, the delegation will visit two furniture shows, namely the
Interzum Cologne 2003 and LIGNAplus Hannover 2003.
Dr Lim will be accompanied by officials from his ministry, the Forestry
Departments of Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak, the Malaysian Timber
Industry Board, the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia, the Malaysian
Timber Council and the Malaysian Timber Certification Council (MTCC).
The Interzum Cologne is considered one of the largest events for
furniture production and interior works, while the LIGNAplus Hannover is
the world's leading trade fair for wood working machinery, wood
processing industry and wood products.
The private sector from both the upstream and downstream processing
sectors of the Malaysian timber industry will also be following Dr
Lim's delegation to the fairs.
The two fairs will feature a comprehensive range of new products and
trends for furniture-making and home interiors as well as wood working
machinery, equipment, tools and accessories.
"This is important to facilitate the integration of the primary
processing sector, comprising the sawn timber, plywood and veneer
producers with the downstream value-added sector, mainly the furniture
makers," the ministry said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the visit to Brussels is important to discuss commodity
issues in general and timber issues in particular with the relevant
European Commissioners.
Specifically, the Malaysian delegation will take the opportunity to
clarify major issues affecting the market access for tropical timber
products in the European Union (EU) market, which has become more
difficult and restrictive in recent years.
Another issue that would be discussed is the proposal by the EU to
classify boric acid under category 3 of the European Dangerous
Substances Directive, which requires mandatory labelling.
Such action will have an adverse impact on the country's
exports
of Malaysian Oak (rubber wood) furniture to the EU member countries. This
is because boric acid is widely used in the treatment of timber before
they are turned into finished products.
Malaysian Oak is used extensively in the local furniture
industry,
contributing about RM4.5 billion in foreign exchange earnings
annually.
The main objective for the visit to the Scandinavian countries is to
discuss issues affecting trade in tropical timber, including the
allegations made by the Rainforest Foundation in Norway that
Malaysia's forests are not sustainably managed and that
deforestation is rampant.
The visit is also aimed at promoting Malaysia's newly implemented
timber certification scheme under the MTCC and possible recognition of
the scheme by the governments and local councils of the countries.
"Another important issue is the allegation by some environmental
non-governmental organisations, particularly in Sweden, that oil palm
cultivation leads to the destruction of rain forests.
"In this particular case, we will inform them about
Malaysia's good track record in undertaking prudent land
management and conservation of its natural forests," added the
Ministry.
Through various discussions and interactions with the relevant
authorities and target groups, the ministry hopes that the visit would
also help to correct the negative perceptions that these countries have
on Malaysia with regard to its forestry and timber sector, it said in
the statement.
"This is important in order to improve our country's image
internationally so that the development of the forestry and timber
sector will continue to progress rapidly without facing major obstacles,
in the form of both trade and non-trade barriers in the international
market."