BIOJISM SMIs CAN MARKET PRODUCTS TO EUROPE BY 2012

ALOR SETAR (Malaysia), July 28 (Bernama) -- Small-and medium-sized
industries (SMIs) venturing into the biojism industry will have the chance to
sell their products in the European market by 2012.

Biomass-SP Technical Advisor Leong Kin Mun said 50 SMIs will be picked
for biojism commercialisation to the international market.

Selection of SMIs will be completed in November, he said.

Under the four-year development programme by the regional economic
cooperation agency, Biomass-SP, will invite potential parties from Europe to
hold talks with the selected SMIs.

"We will sponsor 80 per cent of the cost to bring in the foreign parties.
During the business-matching session, they will have a good chance to pick their
business partners and local SMIs will benefit," he told reporters after a
briefing on biojism industry here Wednesday.

Leong said Biomass-SP will also visit local universities, especially those
that are research and development-oriented to invite them to work with SMIs.

"Some of the universities already have research and development programmes
that can be commercialised. We will bring them to present to the selected SMIs
and see how they can "mix and match" the technology.

"With the collaboration between SMIs and local universities, Biomass-SP can
provide training so that they can get grants for research and development
projects under the 10th Malaysia Plan," added Leong.

Biomass-SP is a company set up under the auspices of the 27-member European
Union (EU) to develop local SMIs' potential to be more competitive and minimise
climate change via the biojism industry.

SMIs participating in the programme will be aided to obtain venture capital,
apply for government grants, investment incentives and soft loans besides
providing guidance to explore market access in accordance with the green
procurement specifications and conditions.

-- BERNAMA