Chief Minister YAB Datuk Patinggi (Dr.) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg (front row, fourth left) is seen here in a photo op standing in front of Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC) Algae Cultivation Facility after its launch at SBC on Tuesday, 27 August 2019.
Other distinguished guests include (front row, from left to second right) Curtin Malaysia’s Pro-Chancellor YBhg Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan, Chairman of Sarawak Biodiversity Council YBhg Tan Sri Datuk Amar Wilson Baya Dandot, Deputy Chief Minister YB Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Chief Executive Officer of SBC Dr Yeo Tiong Chia, Minister of Transport Sarawak YB Datuk Lee Kim Shin and Deputy State Secretary (Socio-Economic Transformation) YBhg Datu Haji Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki.
The facility is one of Southeast Asia’s largest outdoor algae cultivation facilities, and is expected to be utilised as part of SBC’s large-scale production of locally sourced algae for bio-industrial applications in food, fuel and feed items.
It was developed as part of SBC’s strategic collaboration with global integrated business enterprise Mitsubishi Corporation on microalgae research and development (R&D), which was established in 2012.
In his address during the launch, the Chief Minister congratulated SBC and Mitsubishi Corporation for their foresight and partnership in their R&D efforts on microalgae, a biological resource that was considered as the ‘industrial crop of the future’ by various experts.
He added that with in depth research and commercialisation of such resource, Sarawak might be able to position itself as a producer of green products in the green economy.
In relation, he reiterated the Sarawak Government’s commitment to pushing R&D at the forefront as part of the State’s digital economy agenda through several measures.
Among the measures he highlighted include the establishment of the Bio-Industrial Park in Kota Samarahan and a substantial allocation for R&D in Sarawak under the 12th Malaysia Plan.
