KUCHING: Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) is committed to spearheading, regulating, facilitating and promoting high-income timber and bamboo industries of Sarawak to produce high value-added products by leveraging digitalisation.
Its General Manager, Zainal Abidin Abdullah said the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between STIDC and Rich Venture Plantation Sdn Bhd represents its earnest effort towards exploring the processing of commercial bamboo plantation into high value-added products.
“I believe this MoU will further enhance the inter-change of ideas between STIDC and Rich Venture Plantation, I am sure we will be able to create synergy and spark innovative ideas, sowing the seeds that one day will bring forth long-term benefits to both parties,” he said.
“With strong commitment from both parties, I believe this partnership will attract more quality investments to Sarawak particularly in areas that are high value-added, capital and knowledge intensive.
“With this MoU, STIDC and Rich Venture Plantation have made one crucial step to strengthen our bond.
Hopefully it will pioneer more collaborations for bamboo projects in future.”
He was speaking during the MoU signing between STIDC and Rich Venture Plantation Sdn Bhd for a two-year partnership to create a commercial bamboo farm on Wednesday (August 2).
Meanwhile, Rich Venture Plantation Director Hii Wei Wen said bamboo has been readily cultivated in many countries and has grown to become a USD72 billion dollar industry with a compound annual growth rate of 8.2 per cent.
“These findings have shown us that bamboo farming is indeed viable and has a promising future for Sarawak due to its growing global demand.
“We applaud the efforts of STIDC in the creation of its Sarawak Bamboo Industry Development Masterplan, to encourage the growth of commercial bamboo plantations state wide, and are proud to work together to make this vision a reality.
“We firmly believe the programme will generate sustainable returns without neglecting the environment we have been blessed with,” he said.
