Local furniture makers and Yangon Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein met recently to thresh out details of a planned furniture industrial zone aimed at developing the country’s furniture industry.
The planned industrial zone is also expected to boost the quality of the furniture products intended for exports, according to Kyaw Kyaw Win, president of the Myanmar Furniture Industrial Association.
During their November 25 meeting, Kyaw Kyaw Win told the chief minister that the construction of a furniture industrial zone will greatly boost the country’s local and foreign market as well as create more job opportunities for the workers.
Between 2004 and 2008, Myanmar exported up to US$200 million (K272.88 billion) worth of furniture products to foreign countries.
But after 2008, exports went down as furniture makers found it difficult to find cheap raw materials.
Myanmar furniture exports amount to $15 million annually, while furniture imports from neighbouring countries amount to $60 million.
Development of forestry products is a key part of the country’s export strategy, so the Ministry of Commerce is determined to boost the growth and development of the country’s furniture sector.
Source: Myanmar Times
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