The Cuban ambassador to Malaysia, Florentino Batista González, visited the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre, an institution of excellence in charge of intensive research and development based on biotechnology on the biological resources of this Malaysian state located on the island of Borneo.
The visit included tours of the different facilities and laboratories, meetings with the institution's specialists and a courtesy visit to YBhg Dato Dr Yeo Tiong Chia, Executive Director of the centre and Secretary of the Sarawak Biodiversity Council.
These conversations focused on the common challenges of tropical countries, the preservation of ecosystems, lessons for the use of sustainable energy and possible future collaborations between Cuban institutions and this centre.
Among the attractions of this facility, the wide display of local flora and fauna stands out, and among the species on display the Cuban ambassador discovered a specimen of the Mariposa (Hedychium coronarium), Cuba's national flower, whose essence has been captured by the center's specialists to create fragrances and lotions, giving the public the satisfaction of experiencing the smells of the tropical forest.