KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 21): The Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities (KPPK) through the Malaysian Timber Industry Board (MTIB) says it will continue to cooperate with stakeholders especially industry players in the commercial development of bamboo.

Minister Datuk Dr Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali said the concept of smart partnership would be given attention, with the ministry ready to provide advisory services to interested parties in the industry.

This effort is in line with the development of the bamboo industry as a game-changing programme in the 12th Malaysia Plan including the bamboo industry development action plan 2021-2025 being developed that takes into consideration the views of all parties.

"Various initiatives will be implemented to boost the development of the industry including listing the bamboo species under the Forest Plantation Development Programme with offers of soft loans to interested parties, and this covers all bamboo species that can be cultivated in plantations as well as the development of international standards related to bamboo and bamboo products,” he said in a statement.

The ministry will also engage in research and development (R&D) collaboration with research institutes as well as several public and private institutions of higher learning to develop bamboo-based products such as veneer, lamination boards and charcoal, he said.

Malaysia has about 59 bamboo species in 10 genera, with 45 of them being local species that grow naturally in forested areas.

The global market for bamboo products is estimated at US$68 billion (US$1= RM4.34) in 2018. However, as the export contribution of the country’s bamboo-based industry is still low at around RM9 million in 2019, the industry has great potential to be developed in Malaysia.