DATUK Abdul Rahim said the State Government is glad that Mardi is planning to build a RM10 million research station in Tawau under the 9MP.

"The proposed station will be helpful in the State Government's efforts to boost the development of the fishery-based downstream industry using the incubator system," he said.

He also hoped bumiputera entrepreneurs would take full advantage of all the assistance provided by Mardi to progress in their respective business ventures.

He said the State Government is currently focusing on the further growth of its downstream processing industry.

He is confident that more than half the RM1.3 billion worth of imported food products can be replaced with locally-produced products soon. The ventures include rice mills and processing of rice-based products, preserved food (jeruk), dehydrated vegetable, local fruit-juices industry, dehydrated fruit, strawberry and strawberry-based products, preserved fruits and herb products (bio-technology).

The rest are like those produced from cocoa like chocolate, beverage, confectionery and pharmaceuticals, besides poultry-based products like sausages, burgers and other frozen products based on meat and eggs.

They can also venture into milk and milk-based products as well as semi-refined carragenans and other seaweed-based products like sauce thickeners.

Since Mardi started operations in Sabah 10 years ago, it has contributed a lot towards the development of SMIs involved in the processing of food and beverages through the transfer of technologies, especially through the training courses every year.

"I understand the process of transferring technologies by Mardi would be fine-tuned to include the concept of 'test-bed and incubator' under the Ninth Malaysia Plan," he said.

Abdul Rahim said he has instructed relevant departments and agencies at both Federal and State level to lend strong support to all local entrepreneurs as well as those showing interest and potential.

"The development of this industry depends very much on the active involvement of all parties concerned, the relevant government and private agencies," he said, while urging the bumiputera SMI entrepreneurs to also take this opportunity to venture into the food and beverage processing business.

Abdul Rahim said most of the technologies for processing food and beverages developed by Mardi so far are also suitable to be applied by the industry in Sabah.

He believes the transfer of technologies, coupled with good cooperation and understanding among the departments and agencies concerned, would result in producing more successful and competitive local entrepreneurs in the State.