Growing UK Market Offers Opportunities for Furniture Manufacturers

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 4 (Bernama) -- The completion of more affordable housing programmes coupled with the rising customer confidence in the United Kingdom will open doors for Malaysian furniture manufacturers to tap into the growing market, said Malaysian Timber Council (MTC). MTC said 16 local manufacturers would participate in the January Furniture Show (JFS) 2016 in Birmingham from Jan 24 to Jan 27, the council said in a statement Monday. MTC Chief Executive Officer Abdul Rahim Nik was optimistic Malaysian exhibitors will perform significantly well at the show which would offer Malaysian companies a good opportunity to enter the UK market. "The participation in the JFS 2016, which is the largest furniture and furnishings event in the UK, is in tandem with MTC's effort to promote Malaysian furniture globally," he added. From January to October 2015, Malaysia's export of wooden furniture to the UK increased 17 per cent, year-on-year, to RM302.8 million (around US$70.15 million). Under UK's 400 million pounds Housing Zone Programme, more affordable projects are expected to be completed in the next few years. The positive trend in the UK was also expected to continue with the increase in household spending and low inflation. -- BERNAMA