Bukan sekadar jadi kilang, Malaysia sasar eksport MedTech RM50 bilion

Malaysia aims to move beyond solely being a manufacturing hub for medical devices to become a nation that creates technology, intellectual property, and global-scale medical technology companies (MedTech). Deputy Prime Minister Zahid Hamidi revealed the government's targets which include increasing medical device exports to surpass RM50 billion by 2030 from RM34.54 billion in the previous year.

He stated that this goal, along with the other two, is to elevate MedTech to a high-value and competitive sector on a global stage. "We have the manufacturing base, market access, and global confidence, but the next phase of export growth needs to be accelerated with high-value products," he said.

Zahid emphasized that the success of this effort is not just about the amount of foreign investment or the number of products manufactured in Malaysia. Instead, the government wants at least ten local MedTech companies to be competitive at the regional and global levels. Malaysia will continue to promote world-leading MedTech companies, but local capabilities must be built to prevent the country from remaining dependent on foreign investment. "Foreign investment can enter Malaysia, but capabilities must remain in Malaysia," he added.

One of the targets is to ensure that at least 50% of new jobs from MedTech investments by 2030 involve management, technical, and maintenance roles. Zahid highlighted that the three aspirations reflect Malaysia's transformation from manufacturing to innovation, participation to ownership, and job creation to building high-value careers.

In 2025, around RM4 billion in new investments in the medical device sector were approved through 46 projects, creating nearly 3,400 jobs. As the chairperson of the National Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Board, Zahid urged industry players to collaborate with educational institutions to develop programs, identify future skills, and expand training pathways.

He stressed that the real challenge is not just attracting investment, but ensuring that the value, technology, skills, and intellectual property generated from investment stay in Malaysia.