Zeti and Abd Latif before the IDB Prize presentation ceremony.

4 April 2012 (Wednesday) – The Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) has received the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Science and Technology Prize 2012 last night at a special ceremony held in Khartoum, Republic of Sudan, for “having achieved outstanding scientific or technological contribution to the socio-economic development of a member country”.

From right: Abd Latif, Mohd Azmi, Zeti and Mohd Ashri posing for a photograph after the ceremony.

Its Director General, Dato’ Dr Abd Latif Mohmod, received the award comprising a plaque, certificate and US$100,000 from the President of the Republic of Sudan, Omar Hassan Ahmed al-Bashir, who was accompanied by the IDB Group President, Dr Ahmad Mohamed Ali Al-Madani, at the ceremony held in conjunction with the 37th Annual Meeting of the IDB Board of Governors.

The same ceremony also saw the presentation of the IDB Prize in Islamic Banking and Finance to Bank Negara Malaysia Governor, Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz.

Abd Latif (right) receiving the award from the President of Sudan (left) while the IDB President (middle) looks on.

Also present to witness the auspicious occasion were the Director General of Islamic Research and Training Institute, Prof. Dato’ Dr Mohd Azmi Omar and the Malaysian Ambassador to Sudan, Dato’ Mohd Ashri Muda.

FRIM was selected as the winner from 26 applicants in recognition of its outstanding work in the field of forestry, biotechnology, environment and forest biodiversity thus contributing to scientific and technological development in the Malaysian forestry sector.

The Institute’s efforts to share its research findings with the public through scientific and non-scientific articles and publications; its success in commercialisation; as well as the many other awards and recognitions it has received also contributed to its selection for the IDB Prize.

FRIM has also published 411 research articles and 99 books over the past five years. It has succeeded in commercialising 27 products. The Institute has also won 77 national prizes and 62 international awards in the past.

The IDB is an international financial institution established to foster the economic development and social progress of member countries and Muslim communities.