28/10/05 KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) -- Malaysian companies involved in the petrochemical processing, environmental, waste and water management sectors should continuously invest and employ latest available technologies to boost their capabilities and services.

Such technology investments are vital in these sectors to complement the government's encouragement for environmental protection and preservation efforts, according to Asia's leading exhibition organiser, Singapore Exhibition Services Pte Ltd (SES).

Announcing the organising of ChemAsia, InstrumentAsia, AnaLabAsia 2005 (CIA 2005), and EnvironmexAsia & WatermexAsia exhibitions, SES project director for engineering events Tee Boon Teong said these events offer an extensive range of technological advances and solutions for Malaysian industry players to boost their productivity and efficiency, especially with the robust growth of the palm oil and petroleum industries.

The two events, expected to attract more than 800 companies from 35 countries, are scheduled at Singapore's Suntec City from Nov 29 to Dec 2.

The CIA2005 show has attracted national groups from Australia, Germany, South Korea, Singapore and the United Kingdom, SES said in a statement here today.

It displays innovative products and services from industry heavyweights such as Beaver, Daihan, Elma, Excel Marco, Fisher Scientific, Georg Fischer, Invensys, Merck, Memmert, Miliipore, Vega and Yokogawa.

Citing the Asian Development Bank report that Malaysia's palm oil production output and crude petroleum export had over the last five years increased by 29 and 53 per cent respectively, Tee said he was confident that Malaysian companies would continue to invest in new process and scientific instrumentation technologies for enhanced product quality, improved process safety and plant efficiency, maximisation of resources and reduction of emissions.

He said the recent announcement of the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) plans to invest RM60 million in three palm biodiesel plants projects has fuelled stronger sentiments for the industry players.

"We are positive that industry players and government representatives visiting CIA2005 can find the equipment and technology for these projects, and source for solutions that enhance productivity and efficiency in the biotechnology, life sciences, food and beverage processing, chemical and petrochemical processing, refining, pharmaceutical, as well as pulp and paper industries," he added.

The two-day CIA2005 international conference starting from Nov 30 will deliberate issues on safety and reliability, industrial networking and communication, productivity and asset management, field devices for sensing and measurement, automation and control strategies.

The four-day EnvironmexAsia & WatermexAsia 2005 exhibition will present Malaysian industry players opportunities to view and seek the latest available technologies in areas such as environmental control and pollution management, water purification technology, waste management treatment and disposal, waste recycling, measurement, testing and calibration.

Malaysian visitors can also sign up for the Asia Waste Management Summit and Sustainable Energy Asia 2005 conference which will be held on Nov 30 to Dec 1.

International experts from the World Bank, Shell, Natsteel, Thai Military Bank and other well-known institutions will convene at these two conferences to address pertinent environmental issues.

They will introduce strategies for maximising water resources, minimising/recycling waste, and conserving energy renewable energy sources including wind, biomass, hydro, solar and geothermal.

Details on CIA2005 can be found on the website www.cia-asia.com while information on EnviromexAsia & WatermexAsia is available at http://www.environmexasia.com.

-- BERNAMA