PENANG is often lauded as a vibrant hub and is poised to be at par with Puerto Rico, Ireland and Costa Rica, which are recognised as the world’s top offshore manufacturing hubs for medical devices, says state Youth, Sports and Health Committee chairman Daniel Gooi Zi Sen.
Gooi said this during his speech before officiating the opening ceremony of the Malaysia MedTech Industry Summit 2023 at G Hotel Gurney in George Town on Oct 2.
“As one of the most vibrant destinations for investment, coupled with our robust infrastructure and skilled workforce, six of the top thirty global medical technology companies, namely Abbott, Boston Scientific, B. Braun, Smith + Nephew, Canon Medical Systems and Pentax Medical have already established manufacturing footprints here in Penang.
“Penang is also home to a burgeoning local medical device sector, featuring prominent companies such as Straits Orthopedics, Vigilenz, Allen Healthcare Products, MyMac Technology Sdn Bhd, and V3bio Sdn Bhd.
“These industry leaders play a pivotal role in propelling the development of Penang’s MedTech ecosystem.
“After all, their presence not only strengthens the state’s advanced manufacturing capabilities but also contributes significantly to the creation of job opportunities.
“Furthermore, their innovative contributions promise to enhance access to state-of-the-art medical care within the region, ultimately benefiting the broader society,” said Gooi.
Gooi added that the Penang government will continue to focus on ensuring sustained growth in the MedTech industry, especially on talent and infrastructure availability.
He stressed the importance of embracing innovation, connectivity, and disruption to stay relevant in this dynamic sector.
Also present during the opening ceremony of the Malaysia MedTech Industry Summit 2023 were InvestPenang chief executive officer Datuk Loo Lee Lian and Association of Malaysian Medical Industries (AMMI) chairman Andy Lee Kuan Min.
Speaking about the Malaysia MedTech Industry Summit 2023, Lee said the event, organised for the second time by AMMI, has expanded to a two-day affair (Oct 2 and 3).
“It is indeed gratifying to see such a great turnout today, and it signifies the potential of the medical technology industry.
“Meanwhile, the objective of the summit remains the same, which is to serve as a platform for networking, sharing best practices, strengthening the MedTech ecosystem and achieving supply chain resilience.
“We hope this becomes the place for local suppliers to connect with medical device manufacturers,” he said.
Story by Riadz Akmal
Pix by Alissala Thian