Malaysia Needs To Increase Collaborations With Developed Nations - Minister In PM's Dept

KUALA LUMPUR, July 30 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has to collaborate with the developed nations to increase trade efficiency and improve businesses related to science, technology and innovation. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Mah Siew Keong, said that sustaining collaborative partnerships with trusted partners was important as it would change the lives of individuals, community and the nation. "The UK-Malaysia science and innovation collaboration is one example of engaging science, technology and innovation via the tapping of global pools of knowledge, research facilities and human resources," he said. He was speaking to reporters after attending the Ministerial Roundtable Discussion on UK-Malaysia Science and Innovations Collaboration titled 'How Can We Work Together for Economic Growth' organised by the Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT) here Thursday. Also present were British High Commissioner to Malaysia Vicki Treadell and MIGHT President/Chief Executive Officer, Dr Mohd Yusoff Sulaiman. The participants included representatives from the government, academia and industry from Malaysia and UK and the local delivery partners of the Newton-Ungku Omar Fund (NUOF). The NUOF is a five-year jointly-funded programme launched last year by the UK and Malaysian governments. It involves the British Council in Malaysia working in partnership with MIGHT to deliver programmes that benefit Malaysian researchers. Mohd Yusoff said the NUOF would provide opportunities for local researchers and businesses to collaborate with their counterparts in the UK. -- BERNAMA