Bukan sekadar jadi kilang, Malaysia sasar eksport MedTech RM50 bilion

Malaysia aims to move beyond being merely a manufacturing hub for medical devices to become a creator of technology, intellectual property and global MedTech companies. Deputy Prime Minister Zahid Hamidi stated the government's targets are to increase medical device exports to exceed RM50 billion by 2030, up from RM34.54 billion last year.

He said the targets are among three main aspirations to elevate MedTech to a high-value and competitive sector globally. "We have manufacturing foundations, market access and global confidence, but the next phase of export growth needs to be accelerated by high-value products," he said. During the closing session of the International Medical Device Exhibition and Convention (IMDEC) 2026 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), Zahid emphasized that the scale of success is not just about foreign investment inflows or the number of products produced in Malaysia.

The government wants at least 10 local MedTech companies to be competitive at the regional and global level. Malaysia will continue to promote world-leading MedTech companies, but local capabilities must be built to avoid remaining reliant on foreign investment. "Foreign investment can flow into Malaysia, but capabilities must remain in Malaysia," he said.

Another target is to have at least 50% of new jobs from MedTech investment by 2030, including managerial, technical and service roles. Zahid said the three aspirations reflect Malaysia's desire to transition from manufacturing to innovation, from participation to ownership, and from merely providing jobs to building high-value careers.

In 2025, around RM4 billion in new investment in the medical device sector was approved for 46 projects, creating nearly 3,400 jobs. As chairman of the National Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Council, Zahid urged industry players to work with educational institutions to develop programs, identify future skills and open more pathways for talent transfer.

The real challenge, he said, is not just attracting investment, but ensuring the value, technology, expertise and intellectual property generated by that investment also remain in Malaysia.