MALAYSIA OFFERS GOOD INCENTIVES FOR INDIAN BIOTECH COMPANIES

KUALA LUMPUR, June 3 (Bernama) -- Malaysia which offers attractive
incentives and infrastructure for companies venturing into biotechnology can anticipate more collaboration with Indian biotech companies in future.

Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation's (BiotechCorp) Chief Executive Officer
Iskandar Mizal Mahmood said with the facilities provided Indian companies
should have no problem in expanding their operations here.

"We anticipate not just higher but more significant collaborations with
the Indian fraternity," he said in a statement Wednesday in conjunction with
BiotechCorp's participation at the three-day Bangalore India Bio 2010 conference
and exhibition which began June 2.

Iskandar said Malaysia offered a strategic base for companies in Active
Pharmaceutical Ingredients, contract manufacturing, contract research
organisation and medical device and diagnostics.

He said memorandum of understandings have been signed with two reputed
Indian companies and global biotech giants, BioCon Ltd and Dr Reddy's
Laboratories Ltd.

"The potential with BioCon will mark a significant progress for Malaysia in
the area of biological products while collaboration with Dr Reddy's will
explore a joint drug discovery research programme and the setting up of a
pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in the country.

"The participation of BioCon and Dr Reddy's will catalyse our commitment to
serve the needs of Indian investors in the biotechnology sector and anchor
Malaysia's efforts in becoming the new biotech hub in Asia," Iskandar added.

Nine Indian BioNexus companies are currently operating in Malaysia, out of
which six are joint-ventures with Malaysian parties and the remainder are
wholly-owned by Indian companies with total investments exceeding RM28.5
million (US$8.7 million) (US$1=RM3.27).

-- BERNAMA