SPA - The OIC Committee for Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) will help investigate biologically active natural ingredients found in various species of plants across Malaysia to treat diseases, according to an official statement. The Committee has approved a project initiated by Institute of Bioscience, University Putra Malaysia on bio-prospecting of Malaysian plants. The project will also be used to seek out commercial viability of various plant components. Member states in the region are expected to draw benefits from this project in terms of kick-starting similar activities that eventually establish a bigger pool of resources for the mutual benefit of the entire OIC region, the statement said. Similarly, in its continual support for promotion of science and technology, the COMSTECH and International Foundation for Science (IFS) have announced financial support for eight different projects in the OIC region. These projects would be initiated in Bangladesh, Benin, Egypt, Gabon, Iran, Mali, Niger and Uganda. The COMSTECH would financially support an upcoming conference on medical plants being organized by the Arab Academy of Sciences at Amman, Jordan from October 9-11. The Committee is supporting that event to be used for travel expenses of scientists and speakers invited from the OIC member states.
