Posted on August 31, 2012, Friday

KOTA KINABALU: Biotechnology has the potential to become the medium for economic growth and generate new wealth for the state as well as increase the rakyats income, says Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman.

In this regard, he said the state government, through its Halatuju development agenda, has outlined the needs for the benefits of science and technology, especially biotechnology for development.

Towards this end, several initiatives have taken off to facilitate the rakyats participation in biotechnology focusing on knowledge, he said in his speech at a briefing on Bioeconomy in Sabah Development Corridor (SDC), here yesterday. Also present was Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili.

Musa, who was also state finance minister, said the initiatives included implementing various key projects such as Sabah Agro-Industrial Precinct (SAIP), Palm Oil Industrial Cluster (POIC) and Keningau Integrated Livestock Farming Centre.

Research on biomass policy, non-wood forest products and marine resources was also carried out to strengthen the states bioeconomy development, he said.

Musa said such efforts showed the commitment, determination and earnestness of the government via the Economic Transformation Programme, which was the catalyst for Sabahs economic progress.

I believe this will be able to create more job opportunities and change the economic scenario of the state, he said.

He said the implementation of SDCs phase two investment spearheaded by the private sector also played an active role including in bioeconomy development.

Musa was also confident that Sabah has a huge potential in attracting biotechnology industry to the state and subsequently increase the states economy to a higher level.

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Biotechnology has potential to be medium for Sabah’s growth