|
Progress in efforts to tap
Cuban expertise
The
Star Online, Malaysia,
March 25, 2005.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's initiative to
tap Cuban expertise moves a notch higher
with the Second Joint Commission Meeting
(JCM) to be hosted in Putrajaya today.
The 13-member Cuban delegation, led by
Informatics and Communications Minister
Ignacio Gonzalez Planas, has come well-prepared
to cover issues related to the biotechnology,
ICT, agriculture and fisheries sectors.
These sectors formed the crux of discussions
during Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah
Ahmad Badawi's visit to Havana last November.
Cuban Ambassador to Malaysia Pedro Monzon
Barata said his country was giving top priority
to the meeting, which follows the inaugural
session held at the Cuban capital in 2002.
He explained that Cuba had decided to send
Planas for the meeting as he was "well
equipped" to talk on the areas of interest
to Malaysia.
The JCM meeting here began with discussions
at the senior officials' level on Tuesday.
"We have had very lively discussions
and have made progress. We expect conclusions
at today's ministerial meeting," he
told The Star.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid
Albar will lead Malaysia's team at the talks.
Malaysia and Cuba established diplomatic
ties in 1975.
The meeting comes at a time when Malaysia
is pursuing Cuban expertise in vaccines
for Hepatitis B and dengue fever.
Barata said Cuba would likely produce the
anti-Hepatitis B vaccine this month, adding
that Cuban scientists were working on a
vaccine for cancer.
There is a plan to manufacture in Malaysia
Cuban biotechnology products for the South-East
Asian market.
| 
