Malaysia Successfully Hosts Southeast Asia’s Largest Healthcare Exhibition: International Healthcare Week (IHW) 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, 6 AUGUST 2025 (WEDNESDAY) – The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) in strategic partnership with Informa Markets, has successfully concluded the International Healthcare Week (IHW) 2025, held from 16 to 18 July 2025 at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC).
The landmark event marked a major milestone for Malaysia’s healthcare industry, drawing over 800 exhibitors and more than 22,000 trade visitors from across the globe. IHW 2025 integrated four (4) global healthcare exhibitions under one roof — CPHI Southeast Asia, WHX Kuala Lumpur, WHX Labs, Medtec Southeast Asia, and the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Asia Pacific Conference — positioning the event as the most comprehensive and impactful healthcare trade platform in Southeast Asia.
The event was officiated by YB Senator Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), in the presence of YB Dato' Sri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, Chairman of MATRADE, and Ms. Margaret Ma, President & CEO, Informa Markets in Asia. The opening ceremony brought together government officials, industry leaders, and international delegates, underscoring Malaysia’s commitment to advancing healthcare innovation and strengthening its role as a regional healthcare trade hub.
The Malaysia Healthcare Day Forum, an initiative led by MATRADE during IHW 2025, brought together ministry and government agencies to showcase Malaysia’s healthcare ecosystem. The forum served as a strategic platform to promote Malaysia’s export-ready capabilities in medical tourism, pharmaceutical innovation, regulatory frameworks, and digital health.
The Malaysia Pavilion coordinated by MATRADE, featured 10 innovative Malaysian companies offering a wide range of solutions from regenerative therapies and diagnostics to wellness supplements and medical disposables. They successfully generated RM96.18 million in sales, underscoring the event’s impact as a high-value platform for international trade and strategic business partnerships in the healthcare sector.
“From our early engagements last year to the inaugural IHW in Bangkok, the journey has been one of commitment, collaboration, and growth. Hosting IHW 2025 in Kuala Lumpur marks a transformative leap — not only this is the largest healthcare trade event in Southeast Asia, but it also reflects Malaysia’s rising stature as a regional healthcare hub,” said YB Dato' Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, Chairman of MATRADE.
Complementing the exhibition floor were 125 conference sessions featuring expert insights on key trends such as AI in healthcare, digital transformation, pharmaceutical advancements, and resilient healthcare systems.
In 2024, Malaysia’s medical device exports surged by 31.6% to RM37.03 billion, with top destinations including the United States, Belgium, Singapore, Germany, and Japan, while pharmaceutical exports recorded a 4.0% increase, reaching RM3.04 billion.
IHW 2025 not only reinforces Malaysia’s position as a premier healthcare hub but also supports the nation’s broader trade and investment aspirations under the ASEAN 2025 Chairmanship, showcasing regional excellence and fostering stronger inter-ASEAN collaboration.
