JOHOR BAHRU, 30th September 2015 – In another global branding initiative by Universti Teknologi Malaysia, the Institute of Bioproduct Development (IBD) together with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) headquatered in The Hague, Netherlands have collaborated in the fourth Natural Products Chemistry Development Program.
The program is participated by sixteen professionals from member states hailing from Bangladesh, Cameroon, Republic of Congo, El Savador, Ghana, India, Iraq, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Uganda, Vietnam, Zambia and representative from Malaysia.
This fourth series program is a continuance from the first and second programme held in 2012 and 2013 respectively, directed towards the African Member States. In 2014, the focus was towards the Asian Member States. This year’s programme which commenced on the 27th September until 14th October; for the first time is opened to all member states.
IBD’s association with OPCW began in 2008, in which the Centre of Excellence was asked to bid for the Associate Programme and subsequently was asked to propose a special program aiming at promoting the “good use of chemistry” for the African States.
The training programme is intended to apply the good use of chemistry with specific application in phytohemistry or natural product chemistry in line with article XI of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). IBD’s main focus on herbal-based product and bioproduct innovations would be assistive in providing a perspective and understanding in utilizing the phytochemicals in plants to produce high value products in nutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals, phytochemicals, flavour and fragrance, food ingredients, probiotics,biofertilizers and biopesticides industries.
The program also aims to provide and insight into the development of bioproducts with commercial value that would eventually assist with the economic development of the participants home country.
The participants held prominent posts in their home country and are mostly expert researchers in the field of biochemistry and natural products chemistry development. They will be here to work together with our experts in an interactive knowledge sharing on fundamental research and hands on projects towards the development of bioproducts.
IBD’s Director, Prof Ramlan is pleased with the outcome in assuring OPCW that IBD UTM is the best place to train 158 member countries in using natural product chemistry as a way to develop a vibrant industry that creates economic opportunities and promote wellness by using their traditional knowledge on indegenous plants.
Fifteen years of experience in developing Malaysian herbal industry will be shared with the participants in the hopes that similar policies and effort can be adopted and tailored to the individual country’s landscape.
The programme was officiated by Dr Rohan Pereira, the Director of the International Cooperation Branch who was present on the first day of the course. IBD in have received positive feedback as OPCW is looking forward to a sustainable strategic collaboration in the scope of training and research especially targetted for those coming from countries in transition with UTM.
Through the success of this program, UTM will have the opportunity to send its researchers for training in other member state countries and utilizing a similar grant. The program is also endorsed and co-organized by Malaysia’s National Authority in Chemical Weapons Convention, Ministry of Foreign Affairs currently headed by HE Dato Tan Seng Sung.