Ministry aims over RM8b furniture exports

PUTRAJAYA: The Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities aims to surpass this year, the RM8 billion mark for total Malaysian furniture exported in 2012.

Its Minister Tan Sri Bernard Dompok said Malaysian furniture was exported to 199 countries globally last year.

"This year we hope to do better and surpass the RM8 billion mark, as the furniture industry is a major contributor towards export earnings," he told reporters after his ministry's monthly assembly here today.

Dompok said two important international furniture events would be held next month.

"We will host the Malaysian International Furniture Fair (MIFF) from March 5-9 at the Putra World Trade Centre and Matrade Exhibition and Convention Centre and the Export Furniture Exhibition (EFE) from March 6-10 at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS)," he added.

He said the MIFF had generated about US$830 million in sales last year and the EFE about US$245 million.

"We hope to achieve about a four to five per cent increase in sales at both events this time," he added.

He said his Ministry is expecting about 1,000 foreign and local exhibitors to participate at this year's MIFF and EFE along with a larger number of visitors.

Dompok said the two fairs will also generate an economic spillover effect through the visits and spending by foreign tourists and international furniture buyers.

Meanwhile, he also disclosed that Malaysia had achieved an export income of RM127.5 billion for furniture in 2012, a decrease of 9.7 per cent from 2011 at RM141.2 billion.

"The decrease was due to the slowdown in demand following the uncertainty in global economy last year," he added.-- Bernama