On 14 January 2025, the International Pepper Community took a historical move towards enlarging collaboration with various renowned organization and institution in the world by the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the International Pepper Community (IPC) and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) which taken place at DeTar Putra, UNIMAS, Kota Samarahan.
The MoU signed by Prof. Dr. Ahmad Hata Rasit, the Vice Chancellor of UNIMAS and Ms. Firna Azura Ekaputri Haji Marzuki, the Executive Director of the IPC would be focusing on strengthening and promoting collaboration between IPC and UNMAS especially with the Faculty of Economics and Business with reciprocal approach in areas such as business knowledge, joint programmes, student development, research initiatives and other strategic approaches. The signing of the MoU was also attended by Mr. Apoi Wan, Acting Senior Director of Entrepreneur and Market Development Division Malaysian Pepper Board as one of the witness.
In her remarks, the Executive Director of the International Pepper Community, believed that the MoU would pave the way for strategic collaboration and cooperation between the two entities. She further elaborated that through the solidified bond UNIMAS could capitalize the pool of international players with various expertise. She also encouraged UNIMAS to invite more eminent international industry players to provide hands-on knowledge on specific subjects in the form of lectures and seminars for the University Students which would expose the students to practical knowledge. She further pointed out that with the expertise and resources available in UNIMAS, the university could collaborate with IPC and industry leaders to undertake research projects on certain topic which would benefit the global pepper industry.
She ended her remarks with a reminded that no single University could address future challenges by itself no matter how large or equipped they were as in this era of globalization and interdependence, cooperative partnership with other international organization for academic excellence around the world had become a necessity and not an option.
