BiotechCorp Leads Bio Trade and Investment Mission to the United States

Kuala Lumpur, May 14 2014 ~ Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation (BiotechCorp), the lead development agency for the biotechnology industry in Malaysia will be embarking on a Bio Trade and Investment Mission to the United States of America from June 18 to 26, 2014 to promote Malaysia as one of the most competitive biotechnology hubs globally and attracting more bio-based investments and activities into Malaysia.

The Bio Trade and Investment Mission, covering Minneapolis, San Francisco and San Diego, and the mission will conclude with the participation at the BIO San Diego 2014. The trade and investment mission will be led by the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Datuk Dr. Ewon Ebin, and will be joined by various State representatives. BiotechCorp is also partnering with several investment promotion agencies and companies who will also be part of the delegation, such as East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC), InvestPenang, InvestKL, Kulim Technology Park Corporation, Johor Biotechnology and Biodiversity Corporation (J-Biotech) and FELDA Wellness Corporation.

According to BiotechCorp Chief Executive Officer, Dato’ Dr. Mohd Nazlee Kamal, the Bio Trade and Investment Mission is crucial to position Malaysia as a gateway into Asia for investments in AgBiotech, BioMedical and BioIndustrial Sectors.

“We need to increase Malaysia’s visibility as a destination of choice for investors in bio-basedbusinesses as well as provide opportunities for Malaysian investment promotion agencies to network with potential investment leads for the benefit of the country,” said Dato’ Dr. Mohd Nazlee.

Dato’ Dr. Mohd Nazlee highlighted that engaging with the international community such as participation at BIO conferences have enabled BiotechCorp to bring in a total investment of almost RM7 billion thus far.

The delegation will also be visiting Scripps Research Institute, a renowned biomedical research organisation, CONNECT, an organisation based in San Diego that acts as a business accelerator for high technology and life sciences entrepreneurs, and several other institutions as well as meeting top corporate leaders in the bio industry before BIO San Diego begins on the 23rd June.

Dato’ Dr. Mohd Nazlee says that BiotechCorp will continue its international profiling with a Malaysia Pavilion at the BIO International Convention. This year, the BIO San Diego 2014, hosted by the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), will be held from 22 -25 June at the San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, California. This well-established global convention for Biotechnology has been acknowledged as a strategic platform for Malaysia in bringing a strong pipeline of investment flows into Malaysia.

Through this 10th participation in the BIO International Conference and Exhibition, BiotechCorp aims to drive the bioeconomic growth by stretching the global bands of networking and unlocking potential growth areas with the United States of America and other international counterparts. “In full support of the Bioeconomy Transformation Program and in continuously helping Malaysia gain visibility in the bio-based sphere, we have realised the potential return from global events as this will help stimulate an ecosystem that offers growth opportunities and value, for us and our stakeholders,” said Dato’ Dr.Mohd Nazlee Kamal.

“One of the interesting features at this year’s BIO is that we will be introducing the BioShoppe at the Malaysia pavilion. This is the first time the world will see our concept store for bio products as we showcase more than 100 products by more than 30 BioNexus companies,” he added.

Featured also in the programme is a networking event, ‘Malaysia Day Networking Luncheon’, hosted by BiotechCorp to generate greater interaction between Malaysian representatives, BIO members, the San Diego business communities, and individuals from global bio-based companies.

The BIO International Convention is the world’s largest gathering of biotechnology professional, business leaders, scientists and policy makers and is expected to draw over 16,500 attendees with 1,700 exhibiting companies from 65 countries.

For media inquiries, kindly contact:
BiotechCorp

DAZRENE AZMIL DARUS
Manager, Strategic Communications
Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation
Tel/Fax : +603 2116 5158
Email:dazrene.darus@biotechcorp.com.my