SciDev.Net

Malaysian agricultural biotechnologist transplanting banana seeds

IRD / Alain Rival

The prime minister of Malaysia Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has outlined a nine-point strategy for boosting biotechnology in the country.

Among the plan's main features are making the Malaysian agriculture, healthcare and industry high-tech; setting up biotechnology centres of research excellence; applying 'lab-to-market' funding and incentives; and offering 100 per cent tax relief on biotechnology investments from the private sector.

Speaking yesterday (28 April) at the 2005 BioMalaysia conference in Putrajaya, Badawi also announced the establishment of the Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation, which will identify and back promising biotechnology ventures.