For the third straight year, UBM Malaysia, the organiser of MIFF, recently presented RM 150,000 to Muar Furniture Association (MFA), to support its activities that includes initiatives to interest the younger generations in furniture making.

Mr M Gandhi, Managing Director of ASEAN Business of UBM Asia, sees the nurturing of young designers as an effective initiative to deliver sustainable benefits to the Malaysian furniture industry.

"Our corporate social responsibility initiatives are business-driven for our customers.  We are focused on making a positive difference by creating a supportive environment that can excite and draw young people into furniture design to ensure a successful and sustainable future for the local industry," said Mr Gandhi.

MFA President Mr Neo Chee Kiat said MIFF's contribution demonstrated its commitment to enhance the industry in a constructive way because design talent was crucial to make Malaysian products more competitive amid growing international rivalry.

"We have organised various programmes such as furniture design and even student field trip to visit MIFF this year to get them closer to the industry. Design is a lifeline that will shape the future of Malaysian furniture. We have a fruitful strategic alliance with MIFF and we will continue to carry on with this partnership that has brought a lot of value and exposure to our members," he said.