By Alang Bendahara
SHAH ALAM, July 25 — Biotechnology has been identified as one of the sectors of focus in the soon-to-be-tabled First Selangor Plan (RS-1), said state executive councillor for trade and investment Dato’ Teng Chang Khim.
As such, support from all state agencies is needed to ensure the smooth implementation of the Selangor Biotechnology Action Plan 2021 – 2030 and RS-1.
“The biotechnology sector has its own attractions, especially during the post-Covid-19 pandemic era and has the high potential of driving Selangor’s economy,” said Teng.
He was responding to a query from Kuala Kubu Baharu state assemblyman Lee Kee Hiong on Selangor’s investments, particularly its efforts to attract investors in biotechnology, during the Selangor State Legislative Assembly here today.
The RS-1 will focus on four main principles namely the economy, social, sustainability and governance as part of the efforts to make Selangor a Smart State by 2025. The clear framework of the five-year plan will be tabled by Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari on July 27.
Teng added that in September 2021, the state set up the Selangor Biotechnology Coordination Office (SBIOCO) which started operating in February this year, under Invest Selangor Bhd (Invest Selangor) to focus on developing the biotechnology industry.
“Efforts to promote the biotechnology industry in the state have started this year with a series of trade visits to Penang and Johor to attract the small-and-medium enterprises (SME) there to expand their businesses in Selangor.
“During the visits, Invest Selangor met with biotechnology industry players from the agriculture, medical and environment sub-sectors. It also took the opportunity to learn more about the biotechnology landscape in Malaysia from industry players in order to provide them with the best infrastructure and a conducive business environment,” said Teng.
He said that aside from Malaysia, Invest Selangor also plans to conduct promotion activities overseas.
Teng answered additional supplementary questions from Lee who wanted to know if Selangor has involved participation from academicians, experts and universities in developing the biotechnology sector.
“To develop the biotechnology industry, the state has established the Selangor Bio Council that I am chairing, which consists of industry experts, key players, investors, government officials and representations of local authorities to ensure that when we draft the plans all parties are involved and we get all the inputs needed,” he said.
Teng said the Selangor Biotechnology Action Plan 2021 – 2030 was also drafted with consultation from the Malaysian Bioeconomy Development Corporation (Bioeconomy Corporation) and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM).
Teng also answered a supplementary question from Hulu Kelang state assemblyman Saari Sungib on whether the biotechnology economy is similar to the smart economy.
“Biotechnology is a field that needs expertise and is a benchmark in gauging advancement in science and technology.
“Similar to the digital economy it is also a future sector in the economy, which is why we need to develop it. It is also in line with the smart economy, as biotechnology supports environmental sustainability which is in line with Selangor’s aim to become a smart state,” he said.
