Galang to become biotechnology hub

JAKARTA (JP): Galang island, once a safe haven for Vietnamese refugees, is set to emulate Silicon Valley as a vital center for technology research.

But unlike the Arizona-based research center, which focuses on information technology, Galang island will become a research hub for biotechnology, serving the Asia Pacific region.

Batam Industrial Development Authority head Ismeth Abdullah said on Thursday that the Asia Pacific region needs a location where its researchers can sit together and develop biotechnology research.

"We have received a commitment from a Japanese investor and Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri supports the plan," Ismeth said after meeting the Vice President at her office in Jl. Merdeka Selatan.

He further said that such a project would increase non-oil exports from Indonesia, with the outcomes of biotechnology research boosting the country's agricultural sector.

Ismeth was accompanied by the Japanese investor's Indonesian partner, Rachmat Ismail, president director of Dava Tekno Agro Mandiri.

"The reasons for choosing Galang island are because it is separated from residential areas, has good infrastructure and is located within the free-trade zone," Rachmat said.

Galang is a 300 square kilometer island in Riau province. Thanks to its former capacity as a sanctuary for refugees in the 1970s, the island possesses a well-equipped airport.

Rachmat identified the Japanese investor as BAYU Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd CEO Kenjiro Nagasaka.

Rachmat was, however, tightlipped about the amount of the investment and the project timeframe, saying that the issues were too early to be discussed.

He indicated that copyright and patency issues arising from research findings could raise problems in the future because there would be many researchers from different countries working together on the island.

"This is another problem that needs further deliberation, but we will find a solution to it," he said. (dja)