Bernama.com (Malaysian National News Agency), 6 May, 2007
Biotechcorp To Work With Bio To Promote M'sia As Biotech Hub
By Saraswathi Muniappan
BOSTON (US), May 6 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation Sdn Bhd (BiotechCorp) has strengthened its cooperation with Biotechnology Industry Organisation (BIO) to enhance Malaysia's image as a biotechnology hub in Asia.
For this purpose, the company has sealed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with BIO, said BiotechCorp's chief executive officer Iskandar Mizal Mahmood.
BIO represents about 1,100 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centres and related organisations in all the US states and 31 other nations.
The MOU signing was witnessed by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak who is here for a four-day working visit to attend the BIO International Convention (BIO 2007) which starts today.
Earlier, Najib, who is also the Defence Minister, received a courtesy call from BIO chief executive officer James Greenwood.
According to Iskandar, the collaboration with BIO also demonstrated BiotechCorp's commitment to put in place an economic, political and policy framework to fulfil the vision of Malaysia becoming a biotechnology hub in Asia.
BiotechCorp is an agency under the purview of the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry and is wholly owned by the Ministry of Finance Incorporated.
Among the objectives of BiotechCorp are to identify value propositions in both research and development (R&D) and commerce, and support these ventures via financial assistance and developmental services.
Iskandar said in furtherance of the MoU, BIO would provide two opportunities over the course of the next year for BiotechCorp to place articles in "BIO News" promoting Malaysia as an Asian biotechnology hub.
These placement opportunities would be positioned within "BIO News" to ensure their exposure, he said after the MoU signing.
BIO would also provide a webcast opportunity on its website for BiotechCorp to promote Malaysia with the weblink remaining on the BIO website for one year, Iskandar said.
BiotechCorp would be responsible for developing the content for the website, he added.
-- BERNAMA
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