Ta Ann and WWF-Malaysia Work Together in Responsible Forestry

KUCHING, 8th December, 2009 - Ta Ann Holdings Berhad becomes the first Sarawak’s public listed company to support responsible forestry by joining the Global Forest & Trade Network-Malaysia (GFTN-Malaysia). The Company signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with WWF-Malaysia, signalling its full commitment to implement sustainable forest management and to pursue forest certification in many phases.

Speaking at the ceremony, WWF-Malaysia’s Executive Director/ CEO, Dato’ Dr. Dionysius Sharma explained that GFTN is a worldwide partnership between companies committed to improve management of valuable forests.

“The timber industry is facing several challenges ahead, including limited supply of raw materials, emerging procurement policies from buying countries, surging freight rates as well as fluctuation of the US dollar. WWF-Malaysia constantly looks for ways to incorporate environmental awareness into the corporate sector by working hand in hand with the companies in better forest management practices. GFTN helps improve business by reducing their risks. The very first step of Ta Ann is to invite the independent certification bodies to conduct a full scale baseline assessment,” Dato’ Dr. Dionysius added.

In year 2008, forestry and timber related industry generated more than RM7.7 billion of revenue for the state of Sarawak of which constituted 8.5 million cubic metre of timber. Besides the job opportunities, each year the forestry sector provides slightly more than a quarter of the total State revenue. Companies such as Ta Ann play an important role in managing forest resources in a sustainable way which brings benefits to the community, environment and to the state. The company manages more than half a million hectares of production forest for timber production and also for forest plantation development and thus commits to move towards responsible forestry. 

“This collaboration with WWF-Malaysia through the GFTN program signals a new era for Ta Ann to strengthen our commitment in producing legal and sustainable timber. The global timber industry is a very volatile arena whereby requirements to supply environment friendly quality products is on the increase. Even bankers and financial houses are asking companies to operate in a responsible manner,” said Datuk Abdul Hamed bin Haji Sepawi, Executive Chairman of Ta Ann Holdings Berhad.  

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For further information on GFTN please contact:
Audrey Lee     Tel: 03-78033772 ext 6406    Email: mflee@wwf.org.my

For further information on media enqueries please contact
Subashni    Tel: 03-78033772 ext 6306    Email: sbahsu@wwf.org.my

Notes to Editor:
WWF-Malaysia: WWF-Malaysia is a national conservation trust that currently runs more than 75 projects covering a diverse range of environmental protection and nature conservation work in Malaysia. Since 1972, WWF-Malaysia has worked on important conservation projects, from saving endangered species such as tigers and turtles, to protecting our highland forests, rivers and seas. WWF-Malaysia is able to leverage upon conservation expertise worldwide as part of WWF, the global conservation organization.
Ta Ann Holdings Berhad: Ta Ann started in the mid 80’s when Datuk Wong Kuo Hea, YB Datuk Wahab bin Haji Abdullah and Datuk Abdul Hamed Sepawi formed a small trading company. Since then, Ta Ann expands its business into various sectors including forest management and timber processing. In February 1997, Ta Ann Holdings Berhad was incorporated and was listed on the main board of Bursa Securities in November 1999. 

Global Forest and Trade Network (GFTN): GFTN is WWF's initiative to eliminate illegal logging and transform the global marketplace into a force for saving the world's valuable and threatened forests. By facilitating trade links between companies committed to responsible forestry, the GFTN creates market conditions that help conserve forests while providing economic and social benefits for the businesses and people that depend on them. It brings market access to the responsible buying countries for the committed suppliers. With combined annual sales of $64 billion, trading by GFTN participants represents 16% of all forest products bought or sold internationally every year. Read more about the GFTN’s work on supporting responsible forest management and trade at www.gftn.org.

GFTN-Malaysia: It is the Malaysian chapter of WWF’s GFTN. Working in parallel with GFTN in 30 other countries that represent over 25 million hectares of forests in progress to certification and forest products trade in excess of 229 million cubic meters per year, Malaysia FTN provides its members the market access to a vast global network of responsible businesses.