From Forest to Market: Building a Stronger Timber Future with Tropic Group Builder

Summary

In 2023, Strongim Bisnis partnered with Tropic Group Builders (TGB) to advance the Solomon Islands' timber sector. This collaboration focused on enhancing local furniture production from plantation timber through strategic investments in machinery and supply chain development. The initiative showcased the potential for scaling up domestic timber processing and improving product quality.

The Issue

Local timber manufacturers struggled with outdated processing capabilities and high reliance on native forest timber, which limited their ability to meet growing market demand and maintain high product quality. The lack of modern machinery and effective supply chain solutions further constrained their ability to scale up production and compete in both domestic and export markets.‍

Strongim Bisnis support

Strongim Bisnis played a pivotal role in enhancing TGB’s timber supply chain by investing in a solar kiln and new machinery, which bolstered their processing capabilities. The program provided crucial technical support in timber procurement, seasoning, and sourcing suitable species, ensuring high-quality outputs. This assistance enabled TGB to diversify and improve their product range significantly.

Outcome

TGB enhanced its production capabilities, resulting in a 10% increase in order volume and a notable first-year start-up revenue of SBD 500,000. The improved quality of TGB’s furniture, supported by investments in new machinery and processing techniques, allowed it to become a key supplier for major entities such as Solomon Water, Solomon Power, and SolTuna. Additionally, TGB fulfilled an export order to Australia, showcasing the significant growth and export potential within the domestic timber sector.