Secretary General of AFIC Mr. Basuki Kurniawan and 14 delegates from AFIC association members attended the 26th AFIC Working Committee Meeting in The Haven Seminyak, Bali, to review AFIC Trade & Investment Mission, discuss about Furniture Exhibition Circuit on March 2014, Timber Certification, AFIC Website, Intra-ASEAN Furniture Trade Concepts and report on furniture industries situation in each country.
ASEAN Furniture Industries Council (AFIC) was established in 1978 as a regional trade organization with the prime objectives of promoting the interests of the ASEAN furniture industries. AFIC currently comprises constituent members that represent the furniture industries of each ASEAN country and are certified by their respective ASEAN Chamber of Commerce and Industries or its equivalent. On 30th May 2013, AFIC Mission group arrived in Bali and on 31st May 2013, the delegates visited four factories: Mario, FA Ary, PT Bali Prefab & Tarumas. They reviewed AFIC Trade & Investment Mission, discussed about Furniture Exhibition Circuit on March 2014, Timber Certification, AFIC Website, Intra-ASEAN Furniture Trade Concepts and analyzed the reports on furniture industries situation in each country. The delegates also watched Barong Dance Performance in Batu Bulan and visited Green School, an international school that using Bamboo as its main component for school building.
Current AFIC members are: ASMINDO (Indonesia), Malaysian Furniture Industry Council (Malaysia), Myanmar Timber Merchants Association (Myanmar), Chamber of Furniture Industries of the Philippines (Philippines), Singapore Furniture Industries Council (Singapore), Thai Furniture Industry Club – Federation of Thai Industries (Thailand), and Handicraft and Wood Industry Association (HAWA) from Vietnam. Indonesia currently holds the Chairman, Secretary General and Secretariat portfolios for AFIC for the 2013/2014 term. The Indonesia Furniture Industry and Handicraft Association (Asmindo) held press conference for upcoming ASEAN Furniture Industries Council event in Indonesia that called AFIC Trade & Investment mission. Mr. Ambar Tjahyono, Chairman of ASEAN Furniture Industries Council said, “ASEAN is rich in human resources and raw materials, with its member countries as some of the biggest exporters to the world. With globalisation and the rise of other international markets, it is important that ASEAN furniture industry members continue to work collectively and cohesively in order to compete in the world market. Through bilateral trade and investments, ASEAN members can tap on each other’s strengths, and this trip to Indonesia will be a good opportunity for knowledge sharing amongst regional counterparts.”