THE Malaysian government has invited Myanmar timber and wood
products companies to participate in the Malaysia Furniture Export
Exhibition 2005, to be held in Kuala Lumpur from March 3 to 7.
The seventh edition of the annual exhibition will be held at
the Malaysia International Exhibition and Convention Centre in
the host nation’s capital and will be organised by MINES
Exhibition Management of Malaysia.
Mr Steven Thoung, the general manager of MINES, said this is
the first time Myanmar has been invited to participate in the
event.
He was speaking at a seminar held at Yangon’s Grand Plaza
Park Royal hotel on February 5 that was aimed at briefing Myanmar
traders about the exhibition.
“Malaysia will provide Myanmar timber companies with transportation
and booths free of charge,” said Mr Thoung.
The exhibition provides the best opportunity for furniture traders,
retailers and interior designers to find new customers and keep
abreast of the most up-to-date products on the market, he said.
U Than Htay, the vice chairman of the Myanmar Forest Products
and Timber Merchants Association, said the fair is a chance for
Myanmar timber merchants to explore new markets, and urged all
furniture manufacturing companies to seize the opportunity.
“Myanmar has been invited for the first time, following
its acceptance as a member of the ASEAN Furniture Industries Council
in January,” said U Aye Lwin, the general secretary of the
association.
“So far about 20 furniture manufacturing companies have
been scheduled to participate in the trade fair,” he said.
“Myanmar’s Ministry of Forestry has instructed Myanmar
exhibitors to display Myanmar traditional handicrafts and traditional
furniture at the fair,” he said.
The majority of exhibitors at the event are furniture manufacturers
from Europe, East Asia, the Middle East and the US. More than
7000 timber companies from 120 countries – including 250
from Malaysia – participated last year. Sales contracts
in 2004 totaled US$1.6 billion, up from $1.5 billion in 2003.
Malaysia made more than US$ 1.6 billion from furniture exports
in 2003, while Myanmar earned $58 million.
