BINTULU (Oct 24): The Sarawak Medical Innovation Technology Hub Sdn Bhd (SMITH) has entered into an agreement with the Export-Import Bank of Malaysia Bhd (EXIM Bank) to develop a medical glove-manufacturing plant in the state.
Formed by the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC), SMITH is a medical hub, featuring medical device manufacturing and technology commercialisation categorised under several sectors.
In a statement on Tuesday, SMITH said the first phase of the project will be a medical glove-manufacturing facility located within the SEDC Petchem Industrial Park, about 10 km from Bintulu Port in Tanjung Kidurong.
The development of the glove-manufacturing plant will be implemented in two phases and each phase will involve the construction of four production lines with both having the capacity to produce 104 million pieces of gloves per month.
“It is strategically located to capture market share in this part of the world with a healthcare-focused commercial network between Pan-Asia, North America, Europe and the Middle East,” SMITH said.
The partnership with EXIM Bank, a government-owned development financial institution, shows the confidence given to the SMITH project.
EXIM Bank president and chief executive officer (CEO) Arshad Ismail said the partnership is testament to their commitment to fostering innovation and progress in healthcare.
“Together, we provide the financial support and security needed to propel the future of medical technology, ensuring that innovation knows no bounds and unemployment is addressed,” he said.
Meanwhile, SMITH CEO Robert Hardin said the partnership with the EXIM Bank, which is a government-owned development financial institution, shows the confidence given to their project.
“With this level of support, this project will bring growth not only to Tanjung Kidurong but also Sarawak and Malaysia as a whole with more employment opportunities coming as the project progresses,” he said.
According to the statement, the project is expected to create more employment opportunities for Sarawakians, stimulating economic growth, and reducing the over-reliance on imported pharmaceutical equipment and medicines. — theedgemalaysia.com
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