Malaysia boasts one of the most developed chemical industries of the world. The nation exports chemical products worldwide and the sector represents the second largest contributor to manufactured exports. “The chemical industry is one of the leading industries in Malaysia, that, under our industrial master plan from 2006 to 2020, will be developed further,” explains Dato’ Jacob D. Sagan, who demonstrates this with his ministry’s keen ambition for further investment in the sector: “Targeted investment in the chemical industry between 2006 and 2020 is RM34 billion ($10.6 billion), with an average annual growth of 6.9%. By 2020, we have also targeted that the exports of chemicals will reach RM36.7 billion ($11.5 billion).” The areas in which the chemical industry in Malaysia is especially advanced are petrochemicals and oleochemicals, due to the rich natural resources with which the nation is blessed. In 2007, oil and gas reserves in Malaysia amounted to 20.18 billion barrels equivalent and the Government estimates that at current production rates Malaysia will be able to produce oil for up to 18 years and gas for a further 35 years.