KOTA BHARU: MARDI, the Government-owned research agency, is offering expertise to companies and institutions keen in developing a multi-million ringgit national herbs industry.

With a crop of highly experienced R&D scientist, MARDI could be the catalyst for developing the country’s vast potentials in such a industry, said its Director-General Dr Md Sharif Ahmad.

He said the pre-requisites for such an industry are already in place, namely:

• The country’s vast size of biodiversity.
• Large stock of herbs; and
• Strong supporting infrastructure.

According to him, the global herbs industry, currently worth RM900 billion, involved the manufacture of health care products, health foodstuff and personal care items.

Sharif said this at the close of a two-day dialogue here of the international advisory panel on the development of Malaysia’s herbs industry.

Malaysia’s herbs industry was still under-developed despite the abundant supply of naturally-grown herbs, he said.

"In fact, Malaysia imported more that RM1 billion worth of herbal products annually," he said.

Recommendations coming out from the dialogue would be forwarded to Agriculture Minister Datuk Amar Dr Sulaiman Daud for Cabinet Consideration.

Meanwhile, advisory panel chairman Dr Gerard C Bodeker said Malaysia could play a key role I the international herbs market because it already had strong industry fundamentals. -Bernama

04/11/1999