Najib to chair maiden GSIAC meeting in NY

0

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will chair the first meeting of the Global Science and Innovation Advisory Council (GSIAC) for Malaysia to be set up in New York on May 17.

The high-powered GSIAC is a crucial value-added endeavour of the Malaysian government to enable the country make a quantum leap from a middle-income country to a high-income economy as envisioned under the Economic Transformation Programme and New Economic Model.

Comprising Nobel Laurettes, ministers, experts, corporate leaders as well as members of the Malaysian and New York Academy of Sciences President’s Council Members, the high-powered council will advise on Malaysia’s aspirations of being a high-income country through wealth creation and societal well-being.

Najib, who is also Finance Minister, is expected to announce programmes and projects initiated by GSIAC which would result in a big win for the nation by 2013 as local companies would be able to transform into global players.

Announcing this yesterday, Mohd Yusoff Sulaiman, the chief executive officer of the Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT), said the council would also improve Malaysia’s capabilities in science and innovation.

This would be done by benchmarking Malaysia’s ranking and competitiveness in science and innovation against the technologically-advanced countries, he told a media briefing yesterday.

Basically, it would intensify sustainable and balanced growth based on an innovation-led economy, said Mohd Yusoff.

Among focus areas for discussion at the inaugural meeting were Malaysia’s endeavour towards a green future, whereby efforts would be skewed to produce green products and services from sustainable resources demanded by users.

It would also build on Malaysia’s leadership in oil palm whereby key firms would be encouraged to take on sustainable projects while continuing to maintain it as a major commodity and revenue earner for the economy.

To be held annually, the GSIAC meeting would also generate and increase bilateral trade and investment value for the country, Mohd Yusoff said. — Bernama