KUCHING – The Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (PUSAKA) hosted a delegation of 44 lecturers and researchers from Universitas Tanjungpura’s Faculty of Forestry in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, Indonesia, on 18 September 2026.
Led by Prof Ir Farah Diba, the delegation took part in a knowledge-sharing session with PUSAKA management representatives, focusing on developments and experience in the forestry and timber industry sectors.
The visiting group was received by PUSAKA representatives led by Nicholas Andrew Lissem, Senior Assistant General Manager of Licensing, Planning and Industry Development.
The engagement provided an opportunity for representatives from Sarawak and West Kalimantan to exchange information on their respective experiences in forestry and forest-based industries. The discussions also created a platform for the participants to explore areas of common interest.
As part of the programme, the Indonesian delegation visited the PUSAKA Timber Museum, where they were introduced to aspects of Sarawak’s timber industry and its historical development.
The museum contains a collection of local timber species, traditional wooden artefacts, forestry and logging tools, as well as exhibits documenting the development of logging activities and wood-based industries in Sarawak.
The museum visit gave the lecturers and researchers an opportunity to examine examples of Sarawak’s forest resources and learn more about the evolution of the state’s timber sector through preserved materials and historical displays.
The programme extended beyond the sharing of technical knowledge, with the two sides also identifying potential areas for future cooperation.
According to PUSAKA, possible areas of collaboration include forestry, the timber industry, research and education.
Such cooperation could provide opportunities for institutions and researchers in Sarawak and West Kalimantan to work together on areas of mutual interest.
The participation of academics and researchers from Universitas Tanjungpura also reflects the geographical and institutional links between Sarawak and neighbouring West Kalimantan, which share the island of Borneo.
Cross-border exchanges involving forestry institutions can provide opportunities to compare experiences in forest management, timber-related activities, research and the development of forest-based products.
The latest visit also enabled participants to establish direct contact between organisations involved in forestry and related fields.
PUSAKA said it hoped the relationship established through the visit and the sharing of knowledge between Sarawak and West Kalimantan would continue to develop.
The corporation also expressed an interest in strengthening regional cooperation networks involving forestry and forest-based product industries.
The visit comes as the forestry sector continues to involve a range of stakeholders, including government agencies, industry organisations, academic institutions and researchers.
Engagement between these groups can support the exchange of technical expertise and information while providing opportunities to identify areas for further research and cooperation.
For the Universitas Tanjungpura delegation, the programme offered direct exposure to Sarawak’s timber industry history and an opportunity to engage with a state-level industry development organisation.
For PUSAKA, hosting the delegation provided a platform to share its experience while opening discussions on possible cooperation in areas extending from industry development to academic and research activities.
The 18 September visit formed part of ongoing engagement between forestry-related institutions in Sarawak and West Kalimantan, with both sides looking at ways to maintain knowledge-sharing and develop wider regional connections.
