Sarawak minister leads delegation to visit South Korea’s Bukwang Pharmaceuticals for R&D, manufacturing collabs

Roland (standing, 8th left) and others taking a group photo during the Sarawak delegation's visit to Bukwang Pharmaceuticals Korea recently.

KUCHING, Dec 5: Minister for Education, Innovation, and Talent Development Sarawak, Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn led a delegation to visit Bukwang Pharmaceutical, a subsidiary of OCI Korea.

According to a press release, the visit is to establish collaboration and partnership in pharmaceutical research and development (R&D) and manufacturing in Sarawak.

OCI Korea chairman Lee Woo Hyun and a senior team from OCI and Bukwang Pharmaceutical welcomed the delegation.


A brief introduction to the Sarawak Research and Development Council (SRDC) and its subsidiaries was provided by Dr Peter Morin Nissom, the general manager of SRDC, followed by an introduction to Bukwang Pharmaceuticals by their senior management and research team.

The delegation discussed various areas of pharmaceutical research and development with agencies in Sarawak, namely the Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre (SIDC), Clinical Research Centre Sarawak General Hospital (SGH), and Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC).

Later on, the delegation was given a guided tour at Bukwang Research Institute to witness drug formulation R&D on site.

Accompanying Sagah were his deputy minister, Datuk Francis Hardin Hollis; State Financial Secretary, Dato Sri Wan Lizosman Wan Omar; and the ministry’s permanent secretary, Datu Azmi Bujang.

Other delegation members included Prof Dr Ivan Yap, chief executive officer (CEO) of SIDC; Prof Alan Fong, director of Clinical Research Centre SGH; Prof Dato Dr Andrew Kiyu, member of SIDC Board of Directors; and Prof Patrick Then from Swinburne University Sarawak. — DayakDaily