Asia
Biotech cluster planned at Kulim Hi-Tech Park
By Business Times
May 4, 2007, 09:37

A BIOTECHNOLOGY cluster to house local and foreign biotechnology companies will be set up at the Kulim Hi-Tech Park (KHTP) by the end of this year.

A 10ha site has been earmarked by the park's operator Kulim Technology Park Corp Bhd (KTPC) for the proposed cluster.

"We have begun negotiations with several local and foreign biotechnology and pharmaceutical firms about investing at the park," KTPC group chief executive officer Datuk Ahmad Shukri Tajuddin told reporters after the launch of the Kedah BioResources Corp Sdn Bhd (KBioCorp) by the Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid in Kulim yesterday.

KBioCorp, a subsidiary of KTPC, is owned by the Kedah State Economic Development Corp, and situated at Kulim Technology Park.

It was established three years ago after a study showed that the local herbal industry, especially those owned by Bumiputeras, are in need of assistance from state-of-the-art laboratories if they want to stay ahead of competition.

Ahmad Shukri said KBioCorp's laboratory, with 11 modern equipment worth RM11 million, conducts tests and studies on herbs apart from the daily utilised household items.

"The laboratory will serve the needs of companies in the northern region as well as those in the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle market," he added.

Services, including the detection of heavy metals, could be done through the Atomic Absorption Spectrometer, while bacteria presence - e-coli and staphylococcus - equipment in the microbiology lab.

In his speech, Mahdzir said KBiocorp's halal laboratory will serve companies in the northern region as well as act as a referral centre for halal testing for overseas products.

"We are looking to cooperate with Universiti Sains Malaysia and Universiti Putra Malaysia in this regard, along with the Ministry of Entreprenuer Development in making KHTP a halal hub," he said, adding that efforts are in place to obtain certification for halal testing from the Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia.

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