KUALA LUMPUR: The government is currently in talks with several parties on the usage of the National Oil Palm Trunk (OPT) as an alternative raw material supply for the furniture industry. The countries had carried out their own studies on the potential of OPT and its market. Mah also said the government had established the Import Assistance Programme (IAP) which aims to facilitate the industry players to import raw materials. "In 2017, about RM2 million or 42 per cent of the total IAP allocatiom of RM4.6 million was disbursed for the benefit of the furniture industry." The National Timber Industry Policy had earlier envisaged to achieve RM12 billion in export earnings by 2020.

Source: New Strait Times March 09, 2018 11:48 UTC