Gypsum boards are extensively used in the construction industry

CARPET and wooden furniture maker Mustafa Furnishing Industries has announced plans to diversify into gypsum board manufacturing with an eye on exports.

The company said in a statement it will set up the factory in the Sharjah Airport Free Zone (Saif Zone) by the end of next year to produce gypsum panels which are extensively used in the construction industry in the region.

Giving details, Mustafa Furnishing said the project area is spread across 290,623 sq ft while the factory itself will be constructed on an area of 107,639 sq ft. The project’s cost was given as Dh22 million ($5.9 million)

Mustafa Furnishing was launched in 2004 and specialises in manufacturing wooden furniture and carpets while also trading in the two segments.

Saud Al Mazrouei, director of the Saif Zone Authority, said: “Since its inception, the Mustafa Group has grown consistently. We always provide an ideal environment for our investors by developing and upgrading the levels of services offered to them for the smooth conduct of their operations.”

Waseem Ahsan Chaudhary, managing director and owner of the group, said: “Construction of the new factory will begin within two months and production will commence by the end of 2015.

“There is a huge scope for gypsum boards in the region. In the past, the product was mainly imported from Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Indonesia. In the future, we hope we will be able to meet market demand.”

Gypsum boards offer an alternative to wood for applications including ceilings, insulation and partitions, he said.

“It is known as the green material of construction. The production of gypsum boards will help in the replacing of wood and thus, the project will have a positive impact on the environment. Gypsum boards facilitate faster installation and reduce construction costs. The product is recyclable and environment-friendly and clearly better than other construction material as it reduces the weight of the building and consumes less space,” Chaudhary added.