MALAYSIAN PM WITNESSES SIGNING OF MEMORANDUMS IN MAKASSAR

By Mohd Nasir Yusoff

MAKASSAR, Nov 18 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak Wednesday
witnessed the signing of three memorandums of understanding involving agencies
of Malaysia's Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry and Indonesia's
Universitas Hasanuddin (UNHAS) here.

The memorandums involve Sirim Berhad (Malaysia's leading organisation in
industrial research as well as the national organisation of standardisation and
quality, fulfilling the industry needs by blending new innovations), Mimos (R&D
organisation that functions as an advisor to the Malaysian Government on
technologies, policies and strategies relating to technology development) and
Technology Park Malaysia.

Under the memorandum, Sirim and UNHAS will cooperate in aquaculture
management, and entrepreneurial development for the potato commodity and its
related downstream industries.

Mimos and UNHAS will cooperate in the field of marine aquaculture and
precision agriculture.

The memorandum between Technology Park Malaysia and UHNAS involves social
community projects in which UNHAS researchers will be allowed to use the park's
laboratories and herbal processing facilities in Raub in east coast state of
Pahang.

The projects will start this year and to be completed next year.

Najib is here as a VVIP guest at the 689th commemoration of the Gowa
regency.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Dr Maximus Ongkili, who was also
present, said that this was the first time that agencies under the ministry
collaborated with an institution in Makassar.

He said that the collaboration would further enhance bilateral relations
between Malaysia and Indonesia, especially in the fields of science, technology
and innovation.
-- BERNAMA