Bernama.com (Malaysian National News Agency), 7 May, 2007
Malaysia Is Second Largest International Participant At BIO 2007
By Saraswathi Muniappan
BOSTON (US), May 7 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has emerged as the second largest international participant at BIO 2007, the world's largest biotechnology convention which is being held here.
James Greenwood, chief executive officer of Biotechnology Industry Organisation (BIO) which is organising the event, said the Malaysian group with 350 delegates was the second largest after Canada.
BIO represents about 1,100 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centres and related organisations in all the US states and 31 other nations.
BIO 2007 has attracted over 20,000 attendees from more than 60 countries, of which 6,200 are international delegates, Greenwood said at a media briefing session on Sunday.
The four-day convention started on Sunday at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Boston, the capital of Massachusetts state, is home to some of the biotechnology industry's leading companies.
Malaysia is also the third largest overall participant at the convention after the United States and Canada.
BIO 2007 is featuring a total of 1,700 exhibitors and Malaysia is putting up its own pavilion of 2,000 square feet which houses 14 individual exhibition spaces.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak is leading the Malaysian delegation for BIO 2007.
His entourage includes Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jamaludin Jarjis, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Mohd Shafie Apdal, Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob, Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid and Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh.
Others are Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam, Penang Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon and Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Awang Adek Hussin.
Najib is scheduled to officiate the Malaysia Pavilion on Monday.
The four general topics to be discussed at BIO 2007 are business development, food and agriculture, health, and industrial and environment.
-- BERNAMA
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