PENANG, June 28 (Bernama) -- Smith+Nephew, the global medical technology company, today opened its new high technology manufacturing facility in Batu Kawan Industrial Park in Penang, Malaysia. The 250,000 square-foot facility, worth more than USD100 million in investment, will primarily support the company’s Orthopaedics business, which is expected to grow strongly in the Asia Pacific region. 
 
The new manufacturing facility was officiated by the Chief Minister of Penang, YAB. Tuan Chow Kon Yeow, in the presence of Datuk Arham Abdul Rahman, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) and Dr. Deepak Nath, CEO of Smith+Nephew. 
 
Aligned to the company’s refreshed Strategy for Growth pillar to strengthen its foundation, this new facility will enable Smith+Nephew to serve customers and their patients sustainably through advanced manufacturing. Up to 800 new local jobs in manufacturing, engineering and supply chain will be created over the next few years with key roles already filled. 
 
“Penang is pleased to be the choice location for Smith+Nephew, serving as an acknowledgement of the skilled talent, well-developed infrastructure and resilient environment the state holds. Dubbed as the Silicon Valley of the East, the state’s robust industrial ecosystem not only enables us to accelerate the breakthroughs in the electrical and electronics industry, but further entrenches our position as a medical devices hub in the region. Particularly, Penang has the highest concentrations of medical technology companies in Malaysia and Southeast Asia.” said YAB Chow Kon Yeow, Chief Minister of Penang.
 
Datuk Arham Abdul Rahman, CEO of MIDA congratulated Smith+Nephew on the opening of the Company’s new manufacturing facility saying, “Malaysia is very excited to host Smith+Nephew’s manufacturing production to support the company’s growing Orthopaedics franchise. This facility will be the Company’s first manufacturing venture within Southeast Asia. This demonstrates our ability in attracting renowned medical devices manufacturers into Malaysia. Smith+Nephew’s presence will also encourage growth of local companies and our medical devices industry’s ecosystem, and strengthen our reputation as an ideal med-tech manufacturing hub in ASEAN.”
 
Dr. Deepak Nath, CEO of Smith+Nephew said: “We are thrilled to open this new manufacturing facility in Malaysia which represents our commitment to Asia Pacific, Malaysia, our customers and their patients. It is also a critical piece of our Strategy for Growth, improving efficiency and resilience, and supports our purpose of Life Unlimited so that patients across the region and beyond can return to living life to their fullest.”
 
Smith+Nephew’s manufacturing facility is a frontrunner in sustainability and achieved its goal of zero waste-to-landfill four years ahead of target. In December 2021, it was recognised by the United Nations Global Compact Network for Malaysia and Brunei in the category of SDG Benchmark 4: Zero Waste to Landfill and Incineration. The American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce for Excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility also presented the team with an AMCHAM CARES award for creating long term economic and social values within the community in 2021. 
 
Smith+Nephew also provides a bursary to students from the Penang Skills Development Centre who will be employed and trained as machinists upon their graduation at the Company. 
 
Malaysia is well-positioned to be the manufacturing hub for the medical devices industry in Asia. Presently, Malaysia is home to over 200 manufacturers, with more than 30 medical devices MNCs producing high value-added medical devices. The second and third tiers of medical device manufacturers for parts and components of medical devices have increased opportunities for local vendors to be integrated into the global supply chain of this industry. 
 
For 2021 alone, MIDA has approved 38 medical devices-related manufacturing projects worth RM7.68 billion (USD1.84 billion), which are expected to create approximately 12,500 employment opportunities for the country. The industry shows great promise in generating high-income jobs, increasing export value, and reinforcing the domestic supply chain ecosystem. 

About MIDA
MIDA is the government's principal promotion agency under the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) to oversee and drive investments into the manufacturing and services sectors in Malaysia. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur Sentral, MIDA has 12 regional and 20 overseas offices. MIDA continues to be the strategic partner to businesses in seizing the opportunities arising from the technology revolution of this era. For more information, please visit www.mida.gov.my and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube and TikTok.
 
About Smith+Nephew 
Smith+Nephew is a portfolio medical technology company focused on the repair, regeneration and replacement of soft and hard tissue. We exist to restore people’s bodies and their self-belief by using technology to take the limits off living. We call this purpose ‘Life Unlimited’. Our 18,000 employees deliver this mission every day, making a difference to patients’ lives through the excellence of our product portfolio, and the invention and application of new technologies across our three global franchises of Orthopaedics, Sports Medicine & ENT and Advanced Wound Management.
 
Founded in Hull, UK, in 1856, we now operate in more than 100 countries, and generated annual sales of $5.2 billion in 2021. Smith+Nephew is a constituent of the FTSE100 (LSE:SN, NYSE:SNN). The terms ‘Group’ and ‘Smith+Nephew’ are used to refer to Smith & Nephew plc and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context requires otherwise.
 
For more information about Smith+Nephew, please visit www.smith-nephew.com and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram or Facebook. 


Forward-looking Statements
This document may contain forward-looking statements that may or may not prove accurate. For example, statements regarding expected revenue growth and trading margins, market trends and our product pipeline are forward-looking statements. Phrases such as "aim", "plan", "intend", "anticipate", "well-placed", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target", "consider" and similar expressions are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from what is expressed or implied by the statements. For Smith+Nephew, these factors include: risks related to the impact of COVID-19, such as the depth and longevity of its impact, government actions and other restrictive measures taken in response, material delays and cancellations of elective procedures, reduced procedure capacity at medical facilities, restricted access for sales representatives to medical facilities, or our ability to execute business continuity plans as a result of COVID-19; economic and financial conditions in the markets we serve, especially those affecting health care providers, payers and customers (including, without limitation, as a result of COVID-19); price levels for established and innovative medical devices; developments in medical technology; regulatory approvals, reimbursement decisions or other government actions; product defects or recalls or other problems with quality management systems or failure to comply with related regulations; litigation relating to patent or other claims; legal compliance risks and related investigative, remedial or enforcement actions; disruption to our supply chain or operations or those of our suppliers (including, without limitation, as a result of COVID-19); competition for qualified personnel; strategic actions, including acquisitions and dispositions, our success in performing due diligence, valuing and integrating acquired businesses; disruption that may result from transactions or other changes we make in our business plans or organisation to adapt to market developments; and numerous other matters that affect us or our markets, including those of a political, economic, business, competitive or reputational nature. Please refer to the documents that Smith+Nephew has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including Smith+Nephew's most recent annual report on Form 20-F, for a discussion of certain of these factors. Any forward-looking statement is based on information available to Smith+Nephew as of the date of the statement. All written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to Smith+Nephew are qualified by this caution. Smith+Nephew does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in circumstances or in Smith+Nephew's expectations. ^◊ Trademark of Smith+Nephew. Certain marks registered US Patent and Trademark Office.

 
Associated images for the media release can be found at https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1w0oDJ5No0yjrgohEyY8a0yv0iIvfq5ZJ?usp=sharing

SOURCE : Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA)

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
MIDA
Name : Ms. Azlina Hamdan
Director, Life Sciences & Medical Technology Division
Email : azlina@mida.gov.my 
Tel : +603-2267 3791
 
Smith+Nephew 
Name : Mr. Charles Reynolds
Tel : +44 (0) 1923 477314

--BERNAMA