Fazal Fausz, Managing Director of Rainco Group, said the island has good softwood and hardwood timber, particularly teak and mahogany, while its craftsmen come from families with experience in woodcraft for generations.

Fausz said that the firm's ‘Meubel House’ store is looking at increasing export of locally manufactured furniture.

There is an export market that is gradually opening up, he said.

"Last year Sri Lanka exported around 48 million dollars worth of furniture and this market keeps growing."

Fausz said most local furniture manufacturers are small scale entrepreneurs who work with limited resources, using hand tools.

"If the right networking and processes are in place there is a huge opportunity for us to explore this resource and earn valuable foreign exchange from it."

He said that with global markets opening up, Sri Lanka also needed to look at Forest Stewardship Council certified timber as Sri Lanka’s forests were protected and yet exploited.

"A few companies and plantations are gearing up but it is important that as an industry we look into this matter," said Fausz.

Meubel House furniture is mainly imported from Indonesia but the firm has also started manufacturing teak and mahogany furniture in Sri Lanka as well.

"At Meubel House though we will continue to import furniture from Indonesia, our prime objective is to build up the local industry and boost production locally for the export market."

The company exports to Mexico, the UAE, UK, the Maldives, India, USA, Germany and Australia.

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