KOTA KINABALU, April 16 (Bernama) -- The Standard and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia (SIRIM Berhad) will develop technology-centric Centres of Excellence (COE) in three manufacturing fields in Sabah in the next 10 years.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili said they are herb-based cosmetics, glass-based products and foundry operations.

He said the cosmetics industry was identified following the availability of abundant and exclusive natural resources in Sabah such as volcanic mud, seaweed, cinnamon, ginger, hill paddy and young coconut.

The cosmetics development project would be undertaken jointly with the State Industrial Development Ministry under an agreement signed in August last year, he told reporters after attending a development briefing at Sabah Sirim by the general manager Khairan Untoh at the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park.

Dr Maximus said the State Industrial Development Ministry had allocated RM 1.4 million so far to train five cosmetics entrepreneurs to develop 25 products using readily available raw materials.

For the foundry industry, he said, Sirim was offering training in "sand casting, spin casting, investment casting and product packaging.

Dr Maximus said the glass industry was selected to take advantage of the availability of silica sand in abundance in Pulau Balambangan and other coastal areas in the state.

"Our target is to create at least 25 entrepreneurs equipped with the technology to produce 125 products next year," he said.

On the setting up of a Science Centre and Technology Park in Sabah, Dr Maximus said his ministry was negotiating with the state government to identify suitable sites.

The state government under the leadership of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman was prepared to provide the sites, he added.