The global garden furniture market is full of opportunities just waiting to be tapped by local furniture makers. The global garden furniture market is full of opportunities just waiting to be tapped by local furniture makers.

However, Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) general manager Len Talif Salleh revealed that none of the local furniture makers has managed to tap this lucrative market.

"We know that the demand for garden furniture worldwide is quite big, but we have not managed to penetrate it just yet."

"Only two known Bumiputera companies have managed to penetrate it, but they have not really expanded their business," he said, during a press conference after launching the STIDC Expo and Furniture Sale 2004 at Wisma Sumber Alam here, yesterday.

He added that even the non-?Bumiputeras in the State had not been able to penetrate the international furniture market in a big way.

He also said that STIDC could help companies that have already penetrated the internatio?nal market, but faced problems in terms of limited (production) capacity.

"For those that have penetrated the international market, but had limited capacity, we will try to work with them, and see how (STIDC could help) without them having to expand their production capacity," he said.

One of the ways to deal with the problem was through outsourcing, and using STIDC`s existing vendors to produce parts for companies with limited production capacity.

STIDC also looked into the aspect of the support industry, such as the woodcutters that were used in making moulding profiles.

"We managed to bring a firm here to set up a facility in Kota Samarahan, whereby local furniture makers no longer needed to go to Peninsular Malaysia for woodcutters, thus saving them time and money," he said.

Len revealed that Sarawak`s annual export of wood-based furniture currently stood at RM25 million.

Meanwhile, a total of 12 vendors and furniture industry players are taking part in this year`s STIDC Expo and Furniture Sale.

Held from Aug 25 until Sept 5 and open to the public from 9 am to 6 pm daily, the annual event is aimed at promoting products from STIDC`s furniture vendors and local entrepreneurs.

It also provides an opportunity for people to see the creations of Bumiputera entrepreneurs, offered at reasonable prices.

The expo is also expected to help the vendors expand their market, and exchange ideas and opinions on the latest designs and consumer trends.

Source : Borneo Post