Selangor International Expo (Medic) features prominently at SIBS 2021
Invest Selangor Berhad successfully organised the 5th Selangor International Business Summit 2021 (SIBS 2021) hybrid edition from Nov 18-21, 2021. The event, initiated by the Selangor Government, took place physically at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre and virtually at www.selangorbusinesshub.my.
The summit returned with a revitalised platform and the theme ‘Selangor the Gateway to ASEAN’. The event continues to play a critical role for Malaysia as it brings together regional and international experts of the industries to discuss and realise the vast potential of the ASEAN market, home to over 600 million consumers and over 200 of the world’s largest companies.
The Selangor International Expo (Medic) was among the main events of the summit – together with the Selangor International Expo (F&B), 5th Selangor ASEAN Business Conference, 6th Selangor Smart City and Digital Economy Convention, 2nd Selangor R&D and Innovation Expo and 1st Selangor Industrial Park Expo (SPARK).
According to Selangor State Executive Councillor for Industry and Trade Dato’ Teng Chang Khim, the Selangor International Expo (Medic) focuses on Selangor’s robust life sciences core cluster, which has become a central aspect of our daily lives.
“This inaugural trade expo will bring together the leading experts and industry players from the diagnostic, healthcare, pharmaceutical, hospital & rehabilitation equipment supplies industries to share, promote and showcase the latest healthcare and well-being products and services,” he said in his welcome speech during the opening ceremony of SIBS 2021.
Numerous big industry players
The Selangor International Expo (Medic) during SIBS 2021 featured exhibitors from numerous industry players such as Duopharma Biotech Berhad, Reszon Diagnostics International Sdn Bhd, Foresight Industries Sdn Bhd, Top Glove Corporation Berhad, Medicurve Sdn Bhd, Intaniaga Sdn Bhd and Medidata Sdn Bhd.
Visitors to SIBS 2021 also had the opportunity to learn more about digital health with exhibitors like Hewlett Packard Enterprise and MHNexus Sdn Bhd.
In addition to the main event, Selangor International Healthcare Conference was held for three days during SIBS 2021, touching on critical issues and innovative solutions in medicine and life sciences.
This parallel event was co-organised by Invest Selangor Berhad and InfoMed (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, featuring prominent names in healthcare. The three main themes discussed in the conference were vaccination, elderly care and digital health.
Among the speakers at the conference were Tan Sri Datin Paduka Siti Sa’diah Sheikh Bakir, Chairman of Duopharma Biotech; Dr Kuldip Kaur, Director of Sungai Buloh Hospital; Datuk Dr Christopher Lee, Infectious Disease Specialist and President of Malaysian AIDS Council; and Bryan Lin Boon Diann, CEO of Sunway Medical Centre.
In a welcome message, Mohan Manthiry, Founder and CEO of InfoMed, thanked Invest Selangor for confidence in InfoMed to organise the important inaugural international conference.
“It has been a sheer privilege to organise this three-in-one conference, and I am confident the conference would highlight the challenges ahead and provide solutions and recommendations,” he said.
Selangor’s life sciences cluster
Selangor has identified five core clusters to accelerate its economic growth and sustainability. These five segments are life sciences, food & beverages (F&B) manufacturing, electrical & electronics, transport equipment, and machinery & equipment.
According to Invest Selangor, the life sciences cluster contributes to about one-quarter of Selangor’s overall manufacturing GDP and represents a leading engine for the State’s economic growth. The life sciences segment focuses on biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and healthcare services.
The annual average direct investment from this cluster is around RM52 million, with 37 per cent of pharmaceutical companies, 45 per cent of healthcare centres and 102 BioNexus companies located in this golden State of Malaysia.
Invest Selangor noted that life sciences activities in Selangor had always been concentrated in the central region. They were mainly driven by the State’s strong economic growth, well-established infrastructures, easy access to an educated workforce, influx of medical tourists, and proximity to Kuala Lumpur being the business centre and Putrajaya as the administrative capital.
With vast development potential, the State planned to advance the life sciences cluster to the next level and attract high-quality investments, simultaneously generating more employment opportunities.
Reaching a global audience
As the State’s investment promotion agency, Invest Selangor, was confident that SIBS 2021 would witness good participation and reach more audiences globally. The opening ceremony of SIBS 2021 was officiated by the Raja Muda of Selangor, Tengku Amir Shah Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, who represented the Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.
Selangor Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari, in his speech during the opening ceremony, stated: “SIBS 2021, a key annual initiative by Selangor, is one of the ASEAN region’s premier business summits, where local and international players can convene to explore the great potential of the ASEAN market.
“The chance to connect business to new opportunities is undoubtedly important amidst a highly challenging economic environment today.”
Through its various conferences and exhibitions, he said that SIBS 2021 would present available growth opportunities, especially in Selangor’s five core clusters. These five core clusters include a range of industries, ranging from aerospace to pharmaceuticals, which have the highest potential to drive economic growth for the immediate period and the future.
In total, SIBS 2021 recorded RM217.6 million of potential negotiated sales, nearly reaching the sales record of the previous SIBS 2019 (of RM247 million).
The four-day summit has also surpassed the initial set target of 10,000 visitors with a turnout of 25,410 visitors, ranging from business owners, importers, wholesalers, distributors to retailers and members of the public.
The virtual edition of SIBS 2021 will continue on the Selangor business portal, www.selangorbusinesshub.my until October 2022. SIBS 2022 is set to return to the same venue from Oct 6-9, 2022. — The Health
