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various business activities in the form of utilising wood and and strengthening wood-based industries.
non-wood forest products, environmental service and utilising Manufacturers often cite overly strict regulation as one of
areas to optimise the potential of forest products," said Agus. the barriers for the development of timber trade and exports.
Through MUK, community involvement in forest management Myanmar's wood-processing sector relies predominantly on

will also be more open. This is because forestry concessions primary processing. This approach yields a diverse range of
(Forest Utilization Business Permits/PBPH) can implement sawn products catering to both domestic and export markets.
agroforestry to develop non-forestry commodities while still However, limited specialisation in value-added or secondary
paying attention to forest sustainability. processing has resulted in a fragmented supply chain.
Until 2015, the Myanma Timber Enterprise (MTE) and
Imported furniture is overwhelming the domestic Forest Management Units (FMUs) managed log supplies from
market multiple locations across the country.
Dedy Rochimat, the General Chairman of the Indonesian The reduced active of FMU managers post-2015 reflects
Furniture and Craft Industry Association (ASMINDO), has a structural shifts which may result in reduced harvesting

said the inflow of imported furniture into Indonesia remains quotas, resource depletion along with governance challenges.
a pressing concern for local furniture manufacturers who fear This decentralised approach complicates documentation
this may undermine the domestic furniture industry. and traceability compared to other countries where more
According to data from Statistics Indonesia, furniture centralised, plantation-based systems dominate.
imports in the first 10 months of 2024 increased by 16 International assessments of management in Myanmar
percent year-on-year. often fail to account for Myanmar's unique forestry context.
ASMINDO stated “as an organisation representing 90% Such oversimplified evaluations overlook the complexities

of the SME sector ASMINDO is seeking support from the of Myanmar's natural forest dynamics and socio-economic
government to protect domestic manufacturers. ASMINDO factors. This underscores the need for tailored frameworks
has called for stronger regulatory measures to control the that recognise the country's decentralised and multifaceted
inflow of furniture imports and an emphasis on local products supply chain.
in government procurement”. Myanmar’s timber industry is undergoing significant
transition influenced by resource availability, international
MYANMAR market pressures and evolving policies.
Myanmar’s timber industry - challenges and strategies The sector is adapting to global standards such as
for revival enhanced traceability. Achieving this under Myanmar's current

Recent updates from the Forest Department's official Facebook
page indicate that meetings have been held with wood-based
industries across various regions to discuss recent regulatory Needpix.com
changes.
These efforts aim to revive Myanmar's timber export sector
which has been significantly impacted by denied access to
major international markets.

These activities follow a December 2024 workshop focusing
on forest development, sustainable timber production, plantations