Government -Private Sector Collaboration On Lamscant Project

Government-Private Sector Collaboration On Lamscant Project

AT THE MOU SIGNING (FROM LEFT): DR. HOI WHY KONG (FRIM), DATUK ISMAIL AWANG (MTC), DATUK PETER CHIN, DATUK LEOW BOKE CHOOI (MWIA) AND HAJI MOHO. NAZURI HASHIM SHAH (MTIB). LAMINATED SCANTLINGS are widely used in Europe to make doors and window frames. There is a huge demand for laminated scantlings in Germany and currently, they are being supplied by neighbouring countries at cheaper prices and lower quality.

Held in Putrajaya, the MoU-signing between the Malaysian Timber Industry Board (MTIB), Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), Malaysian Wood Industries Association (MWIA) and MTC was witnessed by the Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities, Datuk Peter Chin. Speaking at the event, Datuk Peter Chin said the development of quality products for niche markets has been identified as one of the key strategies to counter challenges such as rising material cost, shortage in wood supply and fierce competition in the international arena. "The initiative by MWIA with the assistance of MTC, FRIM and MTIB to develop premium grade laminated scantlings from lesser known species is a move in the right direction. A strategic alliance between the government and the private sector such as this will enable the production of value-added, high quality products. With constant input from the market coupled with a proper quality assurance scheme and an appropriate marketing strategy, we could place our laminated scantlings in a higher market segment in countries such as Germany," said Datuk Peter Chin.

"Such a measure is in line with the objective of the government to promote more industry and market-driven R&D as well as encourage effective and efficient sectoral linkages between the government agencies and their stakeholders. I am indeed impressed to see such an alliance taking place in the timber industry and I sincerely hope to see more such collaborations in the future," he added.

DATUK PETER CHIN TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT A LAMSCANT SAMPLE SHOWN TO HIM BY MR. LOW KlAN CHUAN OF MWIA. Under the collaboration, MWIA will identify members and produce samples of laminated scantlings while FRIM interprets the product specifications of the European authorities and helps participating mills produce laminated scantlings that meet such requirements mainly through product-testing. MTIB will look into quality assurance while MTC will promote and market the products.

The laminated scantlings, which will carry the trademark "Lamtec" is expected to be launched later this year once the product has achieved German quality standards.