Wednesday, November 29, 2006 6 strategies eyed to boost wood industry
THE Wood Industry Cluster Team in Southern Mindanao is eyeing six key strategies to boost competitiveness of the industry in the region.
Louis Rabat, chair of the cluster team of the Regional Development Council, said these strategies would include the providing of appropriate financing scheme for plantation development, advocating for policy and regulation reforms to streamline business processes, facilitating access to business development training and technology improvement across the industry, developing and maintaining strategic alliance among key industry players.
"We also have to ensure our market access and of course we have to ensure the supply of raw materials through sustainable forest management," Rabat said.
The cluster has recently consulted a Dutch senior expert of a Netherlands-based organization, the Pragramma Uitzending Managers (PUM), for the improvement of the cluster.
Duke Ohm, PUM Dutch senior expert, stayed for two weeks in Davao City for the consultation. One of Ohm's important recommendations for the industry is a visit to Europe by the representatives from the furniture and timber traders to see what is available in the Dutch market.
He also recommended for a purchase of second-hand machinery for both the timber and the furniture people.
"Do also contact big companies, a lot will depend on both your design of the goods and the quality," Ohm said during an assessment forum at the Department of Trade and Industry conference room, Friday. (JGRS)
