By Shikin Louis
KOTA SAMARAHAN, Aug 13: Sarawak is positioning its new Bioindustrial Park (SBP) to tap a global biotechnology market projected to reach USD4.3 trillion by 2034, with the State’s vast rainforest biodiversity providing the raw material for high-value products, says Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
Citing Fortune Business Insights, he said the global biotechnology market is projected to grow from about USD1.5 trillion in 2026 to USD4.3 trillion by 2034, presenting ample opportunities for Sarawak to contribute to the industry’s growth.
“As you know, biotechnology is between bio and technology. In other words, we must be familiar with technology using bio resources to produce products that are used by mankind.
“In the process of getting the resource or the compound, we can now make use of artificial intelligence (AI) and DNA through data.
“What we can find through this DNA data can become an accelerator for us to produce whatever product, particularly health products that can be used by society,” he said in his speech at the Foundation Laying and Exchange of Agreements Ceremony for SBP in the Muara Tuang Land District here today.
Abang Johari said Sarawak could learn from countries such as Switzerland and Singapore, which have developed strong technology and biomedical industries despite having far fewer natural resources.
“We can study what happened to Switzerland. Actually, Switzerland’s strength is technology. Switzerland hasn’t got much resources if you compare with our biodiversity, but Switzerland is very strong in technology.
“And even our neighbour, Singapore, hasn’t got any resources. But Singapore is in the forefront in producing healthcare, drugs and a lot of products that are used by society, and they even export their products outside,” he said.
He pointed to Singapore’s biomedical research activities in Tuas as an example of how biological resources sourced elsewhere could be developed into products locally.
“If you go to Singapore, there is one area in Tuas where there is a biomedical research centre. Scientists come over and deliberate and try to find through their own research what can be done.
“Although they have to import the resources from somewhere else, the processing makes it a Singapore product,” he said.
Abang Johari said Sarawak, with its extensive forests and abundant biological resources, should similarly be able to develop its own bio-based products.
“Sarawak is a big State, with a lot of forests and a lot of resources, yet we are still like this. That is why we initiated the Bioindustrial Park,” he said.
He said SBP would serve as an extension of the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC), allowing research findings to move from the laboratory into industrial applications.
“Research can be done in SBC and then, from the outcome of the research, it must be applicable and applied to industrial products.
“This park should concentrate on the application of the technology that we get from our SBC and produce it for the international market,” he said.
Abang Johari said the development of SBP could position Sarawak as a strategic hub for biotechnology by combining its biodiversity resources with research and technology.
“With that background of market, I think Sarawak can really become a very strategic hub for us to produce Sarawak products that are based on our natural resources,” he said.
He said Sarawak’s biodiversity could potentially support the development of products across healthcare, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and other sectors.
Abang Johari also highlighted the importance of working with local communities, particularly indigenous communities, whose knowledge of plants could help identify resources for further scientific research.
“They know what type of plant, but it has to be scientifically researched and applied here so that we can set up factories, the processing part, in Sarawak Bioindustrial Park,” he said.
Speaking to reporters after the ceremony, Abang Johari said the State did not need to capture a large portion of the projected global biotechnology market for the sector to make a meaningful contribution to Sarawak’s economy.
Asked how much Sarawak could potentially gain from the projected USD4.3 trillion market, he said this would depend on investors coming into the Bioindustrial Park.
“Depending on the investor. If the investors come and start, then we know. Just a slice of the pie is enough!” he said.
Abang Johari also said SBP could initially be developed within its current area and expanded as more investors come in to work with SBC on commercialising its research outcomes.
Amongst those present were Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian; Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah; Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn; Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development Datuk Dr Annuar Rapa’ee; Deputy Minister for Energy and Environmental Sustainability Datuk Dr Hazland Abang Hipni; and Deputy Speaker of Sarawak Legislative Assembly and Muara Tuang assemblyman Datuk Idris Buang. — DayakDaily
