KUCHING, Feb 13 — The state government is targeting to increase the export of furniture and other value-added timber products to RM6 billion by 2030, Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg said today.

This will represent 75 per cent of the total export earnings from timber and timber products, he added.

He said the target can be achieved by having a well-structured timber industry, including having highly skilled and talented furniture designers to boost the growth of the furniture industry in Sarawak.

"The export value for furniture still remains small, registering only RM44 million which is only 1.4 per cent of the total export value of RM3.1 billion worth of timber and timber products from January to September last year,” he said at the opening of the Sarawak Design Week here.

The premier said the Sarawak government wants the timber industry to be transformed by developing downstream, in line with the strategy toward value-addition to generate the local economy as outlined in the Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030).

Abang Johari also urged the Sarawak Design Centre (Saradec) to collaborate with members of the Sarawak Furniture Industry Association and Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia, and with the support of the Sarawak Timber Association, develop furniture designs further for commercialisation.