Kuala Lumpur, February 9 – The Chief Minister of Perak, Dato Sri Zambri Abdul Kadir, conveyed to the Cuban ambassador in Malaysia, Ibete Fernández, the interest of the state government to develop the biotech industry and to have the experience of Cuba for that. In the same vein, the Perakian Minister of Health spoke in the brief exchange he had with the Cuban diplomat.
The meeting with both leaders took place as part on the framework of the familiarization visit to Perak organized by the Malaysian Foreign Ministry, where the diplomatic corps had first-hand information on Perak's economic priorities for economic transformation as well as the development achieved in the last years. The ambassadors also had the opportunity to visit state attractions and exchange with their population.
Perak, which means silver in Malay, is the fourth largest state in Malaysia and fifth in population. Mining was its greatest economic activity until 1982, and after the industrialization period that lasted until 2009, began the process of economic diversification where agriculture happened to play a fundamental role. Last year was the second state that most contributed to the country's GDP after achieving a 5.9% growth of its economy.