Annual Report 2017

101 D E L I V E R I N G V A L U E LIFESTYLE AND LIFE SCIENCES Throughout 2017, the Life Sciences Unit also received individual visits of potential foreign importers fromHungary, Turkey, South Korea, Mexico, the United States, Germany as well as Kenya. Collectively, the sales value reported from these foreign buyers stood at US$880,000 (RM3.57 million). Majority of enquiries received during various export promotion programmes held in 2017 pertained to medical gloves, with the interest primarily revolving around latex and nitrile-based examination gloves. In most cases, the Life Sciences Unit undertook a proactive approach by providing foreign potential buyers with information as well as opportunities to visit non-glove medical consumables manufacturers, particularly those involved in catheters, needles and syringes. Most of the foreign visitors were not fully informed of the capabilities as well as product quality of Malaysian medical disposable manufacturers. At the end of the business visit, some manufacturers sucessfully received trial orders. The Life Sciences Unit envisage Malaysia’s exports of medical devices will reach RM26.9 billion by 2020 based on the view that this sector has an immense potential to grow, driven primarily by growth of non-glove medical device sector. The Unit also recognises the fact that Malaysia has the potential to become a regional player in the medical device subsector based on the strong branding of Malaysia’s medical gloves and this will help to position Malaysia as the sourcing hub for medical devices. MATRADE will continue to work with local industry, emphasising promotion to new and fast growing markets such as West Asia and ASEAN. It is also hopeful that the local non- glove medical devices establishes a single platform to represent the industry whichwill help refocus the sector and enable exports to grow. As for Malaysia’s pharmaceutical industry, MATRADE will continue to render assistance by placing emphasis on drugs and medicaments where Malaysia has a natural competitive advantage. Moving forward, Malaysia has set in place initiatives to develop its own research-based pharmaceutical companies, while MATRADE has been working closely with industry players to support them in exploring and penetrating the global market. Moving Forward “ Malaysia’s exports of medical devices is expected to reach RM26.9 billion by 2020. ”