Terengganu will soon receive a new tourism icon at Dataran Tembesu, Kuala Nerus when a surau made of bamboo is completed.

Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Dr Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali , said that the construction of RM400,000 bamboo-based surau will also be the country's first research centre in bamboo.

"The 3000 square metres surau, will become a research sample to everyone in the bamboo field, the construction process will be documented and used as a manual and research material. The surau will become a model for bamboo-based construction.

"Currently land leveling for the site is being carried out and the construction is expected to take nine months," he told reporters after officiating a seminar on Bamboo Applications In the Construction Industry.

There were also 66 small and medium-sized manufacturers, mainly Bumiputera, which manufactured woodcraft products in the state, boats, furniture, etc.

"Although there has been an increase in export, from RM105 million to RM114 million, it is still not sufficient and there are more areas that can be utilised by industry players and individuals, including those in the bamboo-related industry," he said.