To be hosted by the Softwood Export Council and Malaysian Wood Industries Association, the Malaysia Technical Assistant Program will take place on 3rd October in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur’s shopping belt is the luxurious PARKROYAL Kuala Lumpur hotel where the Malaysia Technical Assistant Program for U.S. softwoods will be held.
Jointly organised by the Softwood Export Council (SEC) and Malaysian Wood Industries Association (MWIA), the Malaysia Technical Assistant Program for U.S. softwoods is a seminar on U.S. softwood grading. In addition, one of the leading institutions for wood science, Oregon State University (OSU), will also be lending their expertise at this grading programme through their Oregon Wood Innovation Center (OWIC).
OWIC’s mission is to improve the competitiveness of the U.S. wood products industry by fostering innovation in products, processes, and business systems. A key function of the Center is to serve as the primary link between university research and needs and opportunities in the forest industry.
The development of OWIC was to help foster innovation by serving as a ‘clearinghouse’ to connect manufacturers to the research community, to other organisations that provide assistance to businesses, and to facilitate networking within the industry.
The launch of the Malaysia Technical Assistant Program aims to promote the expansion of export market for value-added primary and secondary softwood products manufactured in the United States.
“Due to safety reasons, it is important to identify the appropriate timber for structural use. Together with MWIA and along with our team of specialists, the Malaysia Technical Assistant Program offers industry professionals the perfect gateway to gather, gain and exchange insights on the U.S. Softwoods grading system,” said An Di Nguyen, president of the Softwood Export Council.
Visitors can expect compelling talks touching on the grading of U.S. softwoods as well as get up close and personal with influential presenters from OWIC such as Scott Leavengood, director of OWIC; Chris Knowles, associate professor in Forest Products Marketing in the Department of Wood Science and Engineering at OSU; Eric Hansen, professor of Forest Products Marketing and Interim Department Head of Wood Science and Engineering at OSU; and Jeff Morrel, professor in Wood Science and Engineering at OSU with a specialisation in deterioration of wood and its prevention through preservative treatments.
“Malaysian’s timber exports are set to increase by about five per cent from RM21.86 million in 2016. With such a phenomenal growth, there is no better place than Malaysia to host the Malaysia Technical Assistant Program,” said S.K. Pang, executive officer of MWIA.
The Malaysia Technical Assistant Program will take place on October 3, 2017 at PARKROYAL Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
*More information about the programme will follow soon.
