KUALA LUMPUR: Synbion Sdn Bhd, a spin-off company of UMPSA Holdings Sdn Bhd, has inked a memorandum of understanding (MoA) with Philippines-based United Agarwood Planters Inc (UAP) to boost their joint collaboration in the agarwood industry.

Under the MoA, Synbion said it will supply to UAP the OUDIno, a natural based inoculant for agarwood or gaharu trees to produce high quality agarwood chip grade.

This will be undertaken through the assistance, facilitation and guarantee from Iba Botanicals Inc (IBI), the parent company of UAP.

It said IBI has proposed to work with Synbion as the exclusive partner for the Philippines.

"The move is to ensure that the uptake of the OUDIno technology can be streamlined and strengthened through one point of contact, and further supported by IBI's industry-leading position," it said.  

Meanwhile, Synbion said the MoA also proposed that OUDIno would continue to be manufactured in Malaysia for now.  

"However, both parties will consider additional manufacturing facilities of OUDIno in the Philippines under a license as the plantations in the Philippines mature and volume escalates.

"As part of future collaboration, IBI has also requested a quotation for 125,000 units of OUDIno for use on a plantation in the Philippines," it said.

UMPSA Holdings chairman Datuk Sri Salehuddin Ishak said the OUDIno is the result of the university's commitment in research and development in the agarwood.  

Salehuddin said the university has been established as the Agarwood One-Stop Centre as it has produced various high quality and scientific-based breakthrough products from collaboration with local and international parties.

"This collaboration with UAP will further enhance our agarwood industry and expand the market of high-quality agarwood," he added.

https://www.nst.com.my/business/corporate/2024/09/1105007/malaysias-synbion-philippine-firm-help-boost-agarwood-industry