Developing nations need tech transfer to 'green' industries

18th September 2009

Report from the edge Malaysia by Bernama

Developing nations need technology transfer to "green" the industries, said Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir. While local innovations to green the industries would continue, Malaysia would like to have access to the technology available worldwide to jump start the process.

"I've just returned from the International Conference on Green Industry in Asia held in Manila where we discussed not only green technology but more importantly the greening of technology. "The green industry involves not just the greening of industries but also creating business enterprises in recycling, water treatment, waste water and other related manufacturing equipment," he said after opening the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Sustainability Summit 2009 hosted by the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (Asli).

While the awareness on CSR was gaining importance worldwide, the adoption rate was rather low in Malaysia. "We are pushing for more companies to take up CSR seriously as it is becoming a business model. Malaysian companies are not quite there yet," he said.

Asked on incentives to be provided by the government to drive the effort, Mukhriz said the government was looking into ways to intensify the CSR initiatives by the corporate sector. He said Malaysia was also collaborating with the United Nations' agencies like the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (Unido) to green the industries.

Last year, Unido provided grants worth US$4.2 million (RM14.6 million) for five years to be utilised by companies to improve their production facilities to reduce carbon emissions and greenhouse gases.

See: http://www.theedgemalaysia.com/political-news/149664-developing-nations-need-tech-transfer-to-green-industries.html