South Kalimantan forests are tropical forests rich in various resources that could be utilized for the welfare of the people, the governor said.
The provincial government built the office of the Marketing Center as a contribution to boosting trade in forest products, he said.
He said buyers and sellers could meet at the Marketing Center, adding buyers would not have to go anywhere to find information and supply of goods they wanted to buy.
Foreign diplomats of various countries are expected to visit the Marketing Center when they attend the ceremony commemorating the 38th World Food Day to be held in the district of Barito Kuala and the city of Banjarbaru.
Head of the provincial Forestry Service Dr Hanif Faisol Nurofiq said the newly commissioned Marketing Center is important to promote sales of forest products from the province.
So far management and marketing of forest products have been handled each by individual producers that there is no valid data about the volume of sales of forest products from the province, Hanif said.
In addition, buyers or importers would need information about the supplying capacity of the region.
"With the operation of the Marketing Center data of sales and production or supply could be properly recorded," he said.
Investors or buyers could have information about anything they need to know about forest products, he added.
In addition, it would be easier for the government to do quality control to ensure the products are up to standard in quality, he said.
He said the government would be ready to support producers, small and big including state companies in maintaining good quality of their products.
"I am hopeful that when the foreign diplomats or ambassadors come to visit the Marketing Center, there would be significant transactions signed," he said.
Hanif said he has information that a Chinese investor wanted to buy various forest products from South Kalimantan.
He said products like cinnamon would be an icon of forest products in the province.
"We will continue to first boost production and sales of cinnamon. Other products like `kalulut` honey would follow," he said.
He said kalulut honey is highly potential and production has always been sold out.
Reporting by Ulul Maskuriah
Editing by Albert Saragih
Reporter: Antara
Editor: Otniel Tamindael
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
