Panels & Furniture Asia January/February 2018

52 SHOW REVIEW
2nd Global Timber Conference underlines
new strategies for sustainable growth
• Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister makes major announcement
• Wide range of topics covered under the theme,
“Innovation and Market Driven Strategies:
Keys to Sustainable Growth”
YB Datuk Amar Haji Awang Tengah Bin Ali Hasan,
Deputy Chief Minister of Sarawak, announced that
all forests must be certified by 2022.
he second Global Timber Conference, held in
Kuching from Nov 6 to 8, began with a study tour
followed by a conference programme that
covered six topics.
Guest speakers from the government, private
sectors and consultants presented a wide range of
topics: “Global Timber Outlook: Demand, Supply
and Prospects,” “Genomics and Good Silvicultural Practices,”
“Standards, Certifications and Eco-Labelling,” “Alternative Raw
Materials,” “Urban Transformation” and “The next wave in
Wooden Furniture: Design, Material and Technology.”
In his opening speech, YB Datuk Amar Haji Awang Tengah
Bin Ali Hasan, deputy chief minister of Sarawak, announced that
all timber concessions in Sarawak must be certified by 2022.
“We are set to reduce our reliance on natural forests for
raw materials to feed our timber mills. Towards this end, we are
investing in R&D for a viable and robust industrial forest estate
in the state,” Datuk Amar said.
The conference, he added, is timely for industry members
to learn how to enhance performance and competitiveness.
Later, Richard Laity, Projects & Development officer at PEFC
International, gave an update on PEFC’s growth in Southeast
Asia where several countries are now developing national forest
certification schemes for endorsement by PEFC.
Michael Buckley, wood industry consultant from Singapore, reviewed status
and prospects for Asian furniture manufacturers.
Traditional Sarawak dance opens the conference in Kuching
THE FUTURE OF FURNITURE IN SEA
With regard to furniture industries, Michael Buckley, a wood
industry consultant from Singapore, reviewed the current
status and prospects for Asian furniture manufacturers. He
concluded the industry, as always, is facing challenges, of which
raw material supply and increasing government legislation may
be the two most important.
But keeping up with trends is also vital. In the future this
is likely to focus on better furniture in the middle market, for
example, the increasing need for smaller space furniture. Ask
some American and European companies why they went out
of business, he suggested; while many will cite cheaper labour
in developing countries, falling behind on manufacturing
innovation and design may be nearer the truth. Finally online
shopping may become a big disrupter for the industry.
Roberta Mutti, from Italian Consulting Pte Ltd, discussed
the success of the Italian furniture industry and focused on
the importance of design and the future growth of middle
class consumption in Asia. The OECD predicts that in 2030,
59 per cent of the world’s spending by the middle class will
happen in Asia – up from the current 23 per cent.
Ngo Sy Hoai, vice secretary general of VIFORES from Vietnam
presented two papers on species selection and on strategy for
the furniture industry in Vietnam. He discussed the challenges
of reliance on wood imports, low value-added products and
industry fragmentation.
However he also noted that Vietnam had made strides
in forest rehabilitation, land tenure reforms and market
development. With wood consumption running at 31 million
cubic metres annually with only 23 million cubic metres available
locally, and with over 100 countries supplying wood, traceability
is now an issue.
On design and construction with wood there was plenty to
inspire delegates as technological advances and use of Cross
Laminated Timber (CLT) offer exciting prospects in building,
especially in high-rise. ℗
January / February 2018 • Issue 1 • PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA