Wood-Based Industry Department

Background

Forestry sector in Myanmar is one of the major contributors to the national economy since about 50% of total land area is covered with forests that depicts remarkably abundant natural forest resources. Since the forests in Myanmar are owned by the State, the Myanma Timber Enterprise (MTE) is solely reponsible for harvesting and marketing of timber while the Forest Department (FD) is responsible for conservation of forests. The Wood-based Industry Department is one of the Eight departments under MTE and this brief description is to depict the facts about Wood-based Industry Department.

Formerly, it is a branch of the Milling and Marketing(Export) Department, which operates log sales, teak sawmilling and further processing especially for export markets. In 1999, the Ministry of Forestry has laid down the streatgic guide lines that while reducing the export of timber in log form gradually, the export of value-added products manufactured by Wood-based Industries must be increased proportionately. According to this, the Ministry has approved the temporary establishment of Wood-based Industry Department(WBI).

In 2002, the organization of the department is approved by the Government of the Union of Myanmar.

Initially, the WBI has operated 4 plywood factories, 6 furniture factories and 2 moulding factories. At present, newly established factories such as 3 veneer factories, 3 furniture factories and 1 moulding factory are extended. Therefore, the factories being presently operated by the department are as follows: (a) Plywood Factory - 4 Nos (b) Furniture Factory - 9 Nos, (c) Veneer Factory – 3 Nos (d) Moulding Factory -3 Nos.

OBJECTIVES

1. To earn more Global Foreign Earning by promoting the mainstream of value-added wood-based finished products together with putting a comprehensive ban on direct export of log without value-adding.
2. To undertake (i) assessing and evaluating the extension and expansion of public and private wood-based industries, (ii) technical facilitating and consulting, (iii) guidance for meeting the needs and (iv) all necessary actions for smooth accomplishment of procedures.
3. To play as a responsive facilitator for emerging integrated wood industries which produces peak-yield, least-waste, high-value commodities of wood products.
4. To encourage creative manufacturing and market penetration of lesser use
5. To synchronize between local market supply and global market shares.

EXISTING FACILITIES

Under the guidance and supervision of WBI, the factories outlined are as the strengths of the organization;

• Furniture Factories (9) No:
• Plywood Factories (4) No:
• Veneer Factories (3) No:
• Moulding Factoies (3) No:

WOOD-BASED VALUE-ADDED PROUDCTS

 In Myanmar wood-based industries, the products currently being produced are of secondary level products.

• Teak Flitches and Planks
• High Value Lumber
• Door Leaves, Window leave, Frames
• Parquet Tongued and Grooved (PTG) Flooring
• Parquet (large size)
• Lam Parquet (Medium size)
• Mosaic (small size)
• Mouldings
• Finger Jointed Strips/ Boards
• Industrial Parquet
• Engineering Flooring
• Plywood Panel
• Veneer
• Marquetry

WOOD-BASED INDUSTRIAL ZONES

• Wataya Wood-Based Industrial Zone situated in Yangon Division
• South Dagon Wood-Based Industrial Zone situated in Yangon Division
• Amarapura Wood-Based Industrial Zone situated in Mandalay Division

SUMMARY OF FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL ZONES