Malaysia Biodiversity

According to this article, Malaysia’s International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz has said that “the Malaysian workforce has acquired skills and knowledge to move up the value chain, thus laying the foundation for growth and development of skills and knowledge-based industries,” and that Malaysian and U.S. companies can work synergistically together in emerging high-tech fields such as nanotechnology, micro-electromechanical systems, wireless technology, photonics, and alternative sources of energy. Rafidah is currently in the U.S. leading a delegation on trade and investment. She said, “U.S. pharmaceutical companies are encouraged to take advantage of investment opportunities in innovator drugs, active pharmaceutical ingredients, vaccines, inhalation products and novel delivery systems,” adding that research and development in Malaysia’s pharmaceutical industry has produced value-added products and created the potential for high growth in both domestic and export markets. Rafidah also said that Malaysia’s vast biodiversity and experience with traditional and complementary medicines can contribute to pharmaceutical and nutraceutical research and development. Malaysia is also pursuing new opportunities in information and communication technology and food and agricultural biotechnology. Rafidah said, “Partnership with Malaysia can be a way [for U.S. companies] to gain further access into markets in the Middle East, Asean and other countries with a sizeable Muslim population.” She elaborated that the global market for halal food was worth an estimated US$500 billion last year. Other potential areas for work in these sectors, she said, include health food, processed local tropical fruits for niche markets, natural food ingredients from fruits and vegetables, cocoa related products, and palm oil-based products