MALAYSIA and Japan have cemented a fresh chapter in their green bioeconomy partnership with the signing of three strategic agreements worth RM1.34 billion during the launch of Malaysia’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) Week at Expo 2025 in Osaka.
The Malaysian Bioeconomy Development Corporation (Bioeconomy Corp), an agency under MOSTI, said the agreements represent a significant step forward for both nations in advancing the global sustainability agenda through low-carbon and bio-based economic collaboration.
“The collaborations involve the development of renewable energy (RE) and the commercialisation of sustainable biotechnology products, aligning with the aspirations of the National Biotechnology Policy 2.0 and global sustainability goals,” the agency said in a statement.
Bioeconomy Corp chief executive officer Mohd Khairul Fidzal Abdul Razak said Japan’s selection as a strategic innovation and technology partner underscores the importance of international cooperation in promoting green economic growth and tackling the global climate crisis.
“Malaysia is proud to showcase the nation’s bioeconomy potential to the global market through strategic collaborations such as this. While leveraging Japan’s expertise in green innovation, BioNexus status companies and those under the Bio-based Accelerator (BBA) programme are well positioned to drive transformation in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and biobased products,” he said.
The first agreement was signed between Malaysian renewable energy firm reNIKOLA Holdings Sdn Bhd and Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation to explore a joint venture in developing renewable fuels.
The second saw Malaysian bioenergy company MTC Orec Sdn Bhd partnering with Japan’s IHI Plant Services Corporation to develop biogas technologies for Southeast Asia.
The third agreement involved Glyken Bio Products Sdn Bhd, a BioNexus status firm, entering into a memorandum of agreement and supply contract with Japan’s Respect Co Ltd for the distribution of glycopeptide-based bird’s nest products in the Japanese market.
“These partnerships reflect the alignment between Malaysia’s commitment to sustainable innovation and the theme of the expo, ‘Designing Future Society for Our Lives’,” said Mohd Khairul Fidzal.
“It’s not just about accelerating market access and technology transfer, but also about creating opportunities for the joint development of solutions to address climate change, energy security and economic resilience.” - May 15, 2025
