TURN INNOVATIVE IDEAS INTO PRODUCTS QUICKLY, ENTREPRENEURS TOLD

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 10 (Bernama) -- Malaysia needs to turn innovative ideas
into products for the world market if it wants to transform itself into a
high-income economy, said Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM).

Its president, Mustafa Mansur, said it was timely for the
country to harvest the profits from its new products as a lot of progress has
been made recently but much more could be done to create awareness of the
opportunities available and for industry to adopt innovation with the correct
attitude and mindset.

"Innovative products fetch higher returns thereby benefiting the
entrepreneurs through higher prices, increase profits and ultimately the
workers by way of higher salaries," he said in a statement Tuesday.

He said FMM would organise the Innovation Conference on Oct 13, 2011 at the
Crowne Plaza Mutiara Kuala Lumpur to encourage the production and marketing of
new innovative goods and services.

Former Prime Minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, will give the keynote
address on "Innovation as Purpose: The Stimulation of the Malaysian Economy".

The conference will be officiated by Minister of Science, Technology and
Innovation, Dr Maximus Johnity Ongkili.