GSIAC TO SEE BIG RESULTS FOR MALAYSIA IN 2013

KUALA LUMPUR, April 20 (Bernama) -- The initiatives by the Global Science and Innovation Advisory Council (GSIAC) for Malaysia to be established on May 17 in New York, is expected to result in a "big win" for the nation come 2013, as local companies transform to become global players.

"The objective of the council is also to develop a "quick win" in the first half of next year, in developing the products and services that would be leaders in the global markets," said Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT) president and Chief Executive Officer, Mohd Yusoff Sulaiman.

Speaking at a media briefing on the GSIAC here today, he said its first meeting to be held in New York on May 17, would be chaired by Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Mohd Yusoff, who is also part of the joint secretariat to the GSIAC, said that the meeting would focus on areas of green technology, innovative digital economy and biodiversity.

The other member of the secretariat is Dr Karin Pavese, the
vice-president for Innovation & Sustainability at the New York Academy of Sciences.

"We will identify companies and organisations that are already are on their way to create products and technologies which are competitive globally.

"The Council will provide for them, the link up with the international community, be it organisations, centres of excellence or universities to actually make their products better," he added.

More than five Malaysian companies have been identified to become
Council members and an announcement will be made by the Prime Minister prior to the inaugural meeting.

He said the companies included government-linked companies (GLCs), private companies and even start-ups.

As for the types of companies, he said they include those in the palm oil sector, as it provided the best opportunities for them to become world players.

"Others include firms in innovative digital economy, that is, ICT companies that can make use of developments in social media to generate more income and in biodiversity, those with specific programmes or in specific areas, for example herbal products to be developed for medicinal purposes," he added.
-- BERNAMA