Bio-Borneo 2013 to spur biotechnology development

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KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) and Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation (BiotechCorp) have launched Borneo’s premier biotechnology event, Bio-Borneo 2013, to accelerate biotechnology for Borneo through bio-economy.

The event was also in collaboration with the Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority (SEDIA).

A statement released by MOSTI and BiotechCorp said the two-day event was launched by Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Aman at Kota Kinabalu’s Sutera Harbour Resort today.

Themed ‘Delivering the Borneo Bio-economy Innovation’, the launch was attended by Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Maximus Johnity Ongkili and his deputy Datuk Fadillah Yusof as well as  Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Tan Sri Bernard Giluk Dompok.

It said in line with government’s Economic Transformation Programme and National Biotechnology Policy, MOSTI launched the Bio-economy Transformation Programme (BTP) during the biotechnology implementation council meeting chaired by the Prime Minister on Oct 30, 2012.

“BTP will greatly impact and benefit Sabah by merging diverse bio-economy initiatives that tap into the bountiful resources of this land.

“Such efforts will generate a dynamic bio-economic movement as well as retain Sabah’s mega biodiversity heritage.

“Bio-Borneo 2013 focuses on the biotechnology development and innovation potentials of Sabah and Sarawak through trigger projects of the BTP,” said the statement.

It said there are three Entry Point Projects related to Sabah namely bio-based farm inputs, high value local bio ingredients and high value food varieties which consist of six BTP trigger projects that are expected to contribute RM1.18 billion to the total gross national income and total investment of RM2.95 billion in 2020.

“Another key high impact project in Sabah which will be included in the BTP is the fully integrated lobster aquaculture project by Darden International, a US-based company with investment of RM1.92 billion for five years.

“Bio-Borneo 2013 also presents a great opportunity to identify more Bio-economy related projects through the Mini Bio-economy Transformation Programme Workshop to be held on Feb 21-22, 2013,” it said.

Ongkili in his welcoming remarks said Sabah has vast potential in the biotechnology field.

“The biotechnology application process for genetic sources in Borneo offers remarkable potential for the process of wealth creation in Sabah.

“This could spur sources for new growth and for Malaysia to be a global biotechnology hub,” he added.

He said that Bio-Borneo 2013 is part of the government’s transformation programme through the bio-economy initiative that also aims to enable all states to share in the nation’s successes and wealth. – Bernama