Pehin Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Rtd) Dato Seri
Setia (Dr) Awang Haji Mohammad Yasmin bin Haji Umar, the Minister of Energy and
Industry at the Prime Minister’s Office, in a group photo with the local staff
of MC Biotech Sdn Bhd and officials. – Photos: James Kon
BRUNEI
Darussalam will be producing natural Astaxanthin, a highly valuable
nutraceutical ingredient from the cultivation of microalgae following the
launch of MC Biotech Sdn Bhd, the first commercial biotechnology facility in
the country.
The move will
contribute to the diversification of economy and create employment for locals.
With an
investment of BND20 million, MC Biotech – a subsidiary of Mitsubishi
Corporation and Nissui – was officially launched by Pehin Datu Singamanteri
Colonel (Rtd) Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Awang Haji Mohammad Yasmin bin Haji Umar,
the Minister of Energy and Industry at the Prime Minister’s Office yesterday
afternoon.
Located
at the Bio-Innovation Corridor in Kampong Tungku, MC Biotech is expected to
produce 18 metric tonnes of the biomass annually to be exported to Japan for
final processing.
Plans are
in the pipeline to build a final processing plant besides MC Biotech in order
to produce the finished products locally.
Pehin
Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Rtd) Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Awang Haji Mohammad Yasmin
said, “Today, we witness another significant milestone with the opening of MC
Biotech and the ‘Sinar Suria Bio Center’ located here at the Bio-Innovation
Corridor, an industrial park geared to attract halal and bio-industry related
investments.
“This
marks Brunei Darussalam’s first steps towards embracing developments in
industrial biotechnology. The opportunity it presents to Brunei Darussalam is
that it allows us to tap into our target industries in new, sustainable ways.
We hope that the Bio-Innovation Corridor will grow in the coming years for a
vibrant bio-industry to flourish.”
On
tapping into the global Halal market, the minister said, “I understand that at
present, MC Biotech is still in the process of researching and developing an
alternative production process in order to comply with these standards. As
such, MC Biotech needs to closely work with the relevant government agencies to
achieve this aim.”
Citing to
a Thomas Reuters report, he said, “The value of the global Halal
pharmaceuticals sector is worth US$72 billion. Hence, the opportunities are
endless in this sector. Brunei Darussalam wants to emerge as a leading Halal
pharmaceutical producer and exporter in Asean and eventually worldwide. With
the Brunei Halal certification and branding, we can do so much more. Here I
strongly suggest for MC Biotech to work with Simpor Pharma, Brunei’s first
pharmaceutical plant, to find opportunities that would result in the export of
Halal pharmaceutical and health supplements worldwide from Brunei Darussalam.”
MC
Biotech, the minister said, “is the pioneer in the cultivation of micro-algae
for the extraction of Astaxanthin in Brunei Darussalam. Astaxanthin is not only
known for its wide use as a natural food-dye, but also for its antioxidant and
clear health benefits.”
In 2014,
the global market value for Astaxanthin was estimated at $447 million US
dollars and is expected to grow rapidly to $1.1 billion US dollars by 2020, he
said. “There are certainly great opportunities here for MC Biotech to tap into
this growth.”
On
attracting foreign direct investment (FDI), the minister said, “What we really
need are FDIs, which are able to create value-added products and services in
Brunei Darussalam, and to collaborate together with the government agencies and
local micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). We invite FDIs from across
the supply chain to allow the development of robust in-country value chains and
industrial ecosystems. We need FDIs to be able to work further downstream to
ensure that most of the bioprocessing is carried out in Brunei Darussalam. This
can, in turn, create and generate capital, spin-offs in the local market,
employment opportunities, and ultimately, diversify and boost the Brunei
economy.”
Yuki
Kaneda, the Executive Director of MC Biotech Sdn Bhd, said, “Mitsubishi
Corporation’s involvement in the project stems from our long experience and
presence in Brunei since 1960s with a wish to expand into more diversified
industries particularly in the Life Science industry in line with the Brunei
Government’s desire.”
MC
Biotech Sdn Bhd, he said, is “our first role and mission is to produce natural
Astaxanthin from the cultivation of microalgae. Astaxanthin is a natural
occurring red pigment; rich in antioxidants those are beneficial in antiageing
for human being. It is a highly valuable nutraceutical ingredient often used as
a key ingredient for health beverages, healthcare supplements and cosmetic
products.”
He said
he hoped that MC Biotech can be a pioneer in biotechnology and life science
industry in Brunei to pave the way into related downstream opportunities,
creating employment, training as well as research and eventually tapping into
the global Halal market.
James Kon
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