Pact on development of Biotech Hub at KKIP
Published on: Thursday, April 28, 2016
Kota Kinabalu: A collaboration proposal agreement was signed between K.K.I.P Sdn Bhd and Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation Sdn Bhd yesterday for the development of Biotechnology Hub at Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP).The signing marked a starting point for joint collaboration between both companies for the development and promotion of KKIP to local and international investors, in particular, domestic and foreign investors in bio-based and biotechnology ventures.The proposed hub will be located on a 30-acre plot at Commercial Zone 1 phase 2 within the park with a possible expansion on another 100 acres. It will be designed to accommodate attractive offerings in biotechnology facilities, innovation capital and ecosystem that caters and focuses on Sabah's biodiversity potential.
ADVERTISEMENT
The facility will enable companies to access multidisciplinary capabilities in a single location, provide strategic partnership opportunities for companies, researchers and organisations and accelerates bio-based and biotechnology discovery development.BiotechCorp, an agency under the purview of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) is the lead development agency for the bio-based industry in Malaysia. It has been facilitating growth of the bio-based industry in Sabah through numerous activities, including implementation of four high impact Bioeconomy Transformation Programme (BTP) projects in Sabah that utilizes new technologies, drawing significant investments while creating new skilled, high paying jobs for Malaysians. The projects are expected to contribute RM858 million of GNI in 2020, RM2.73 billion in investments and 4,636 jobs by that same year."This collaboration signifies BiotechCorp's continuous efforts to further enhance bio-based activities in Sabah and drive new sources of economic growth in the State. The KKIP Biotech Hub has the potential to transform Sabah into a thriving bio-based centre by providing necessary infrastructure, conducive ecosystem, skilled knowledge workers and support services which in turn will contribute to the state's wealth creation processes. I believe that with the establishment of this hub, we can tap into Sabah's wealth of bio-based strengths including rich natural resources, strong aquaculture activities and availability of raw materials for producing biochemical," said Dato Dr Mohd Nazlee Kamal, BiotechCorp CEO.BiotechCorp intends to promote bio-based activities at KKIP through multiple channels. Sabah's largest acreage of palm oil opens up opportunities in the bio-based industry at all levels from upstream to downstream activities.
ADVERTISEMENT
Established as a self-contained industrial park since 1995, KKIP has created about 8,766 job opportunities to date and currently houses 288 factories with investment value amounting to RM2.68 billion.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
ADVERTISEMENT
The MoU was signed by the CEO of K.K.I.P Sdn Bhd, Ir Melvin Disimond and Mohd Nazlee and witnessed by Minister of Community Development and Consumer Affairs, Datuk Jainab Ahmad Ayid.
