Malaysia has identified biotechnology as an important, source of growth particularly given the existence of abundant biological resources in the country.Indeed, biotechnology is capable of creating new sources of wealth and additional income. We would welcome not only local but also foreign investment in this sector. However, while Malaysia is aware that biotechnological products should not pose any threat to the environment, or to human health and safety.

Malaysia is moving full steam ahead in developing itself and achieving a fully industrialized nation status by the year 2020. The government in power then can confidently proclaim that Malaysia has become a fully developed nation as enshrined in the forward-thinking Vision 2020 plan. Expanding on new opportunities to enlarge the economic cake, government indicated that agriculture was one of them if the sector was developed in tandemWith the latest technology, such as biotechnology and nanotechnology. At the same time, Malaysia would need to continue with its ICT agenda.

YAB DATO' SERI ABDULLAH AHMAD BADAWI