AS the second Asian country after China and the first Asean country to establish its own bioeconomy agenda, Malaysia plays a leading role in driving the sector in the region.
Towards this goal, Malaysia has started several initiatives.
“We have initiated this by organising BioMalaysia & Asean Bioeconomy in 2015, which attracted several Asean players, including from Laos and Cambodia,” said BiotechCorp chief executive officer Datuk Dr Mohd Nazlee Kamal.
“We are working towards establishing an Asean Bioeconomy Cooperation by participating in the Asean Bioeconomy Exhibition and Conference in Laos this year.
“It is a platform for Asean economies to share knowledge and best practices on policy strategies, actions and joint activities to promote innovation of bioeconomy for economic sustainability,” he said.
This will encourage collaborations between public and private sectors in the Asean economies to strengthen dialogue among governments, academia and businesses.
It will also highlight the importance of bioeconomy as the innovative ecosystem to address cross-cutting issues in the region that include environmental sustainability, food security and affordable healthcare.
As the bioeconomy was still a relatively new political, economic and social concept to Asean members, Nazlee said BiotechCorp had developed a four-pronged approach.
• Create awareness among Asean leaders on the benefits on the bioeconomy and bio-based industries.
• Mobilise and engage stakeholders to realise the potential of Asean bioeconomy.
• Communicate and exchange information on gaps and challenges among Asean members on economic sustainability and how collaboration/cooperation can be established to further enhance and develop Asean Bioeconomy.
• Share knowledge and foster collaboration on policy strategies, actions and joint activities to promote innovation in bioeconomy in the Asean countries.