Dr. Joachim (centre)

KOTA KINABALU: The timber industry is still one of the main contributors to Sabah’s economy, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam. He said the total export generated from the timber sector last year was RM587,993,764, adding the main products that were exported include plywood, sawn timber and moulding-related products. “This is an increase of 22 per cent in terms of value compared to the same period in the year 2021. In terms of volume, there is a slight increase of 9.42 per cent,” he said. Dr Joachim said the State Government has been managing the State’s forest in a sustainable manner since the establishment of the Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) Policy in the year 1997. In addition to this, he said the timber industry in Sabah shall witness significant changes in the future with plantation timber taking over as the primary source of raw material…