It has also received samples from Muscat and Pakistan for out-of-competition testing.

'As a short-term goal, the government is looking to enhance its sample testing capability from the existing 2000 samples in a year to 3000 samples in 2009 and to 5000 samples in 2010,' the statement said.

'The mid-term goal is to provide quality testing services at competitive rates for international samples. It will also look to diversify in research areas in collaboration with various national and international institutes,' the statement added.