KUCHING: Delegations from the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC), Arrow Medsource Group (AMG), a North American health care supply chain management company, and its high profile partners, met Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg for a briefing on the Sarawak Medical Innovation and Technology Hub (SMITH).
The meeting took place at the Chief Minister’s Office on Thursday (Nov 11).
SMITH is a medical innovation manufacturing hub formed by SEDC, along with several high-profile global partners, aimed at including Sarawak to be one of the important solutions to the global medical supply chain issues.
The project also aims to bring on medical manufacturing strength in Sarawak from foundationally needed medical supplies to high end surgical products manufacturing.
It is also expected to strengthen the region’s job creation in the medical field as well as bring on much needed medical resources for the region.
SEDC Energy entered into a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) with the stake holders to continue to take the project to the next level.
When it saw the opportunity in May 2021, it utilised the strength of Sarawak’s renewable energy, petrochemical capability and other fundamental strengths in the state and attracted the immediate attention of global key stakeholders in the health sciences to take a closer look at Sarawak.
“We are expecting our key partners to visit Sarawak very soon to expedite the development of this project,” said SEDC Energy chief executive officer Robert Hardin.
“The state’s stability and its vision give us confidence. This will be one of many milestones that we will execute in the next coming months,” added AMG chief executive officer Kevin Teng.
Abang Johari expressed his support for the project, adding that it would spur new industries in Sarawak.
He also thanked SEDC for the continuous development of Sarawak and for bringing in new opportunities for the region.
Also present were State Planning Unit Director Datuk Dr Muhammad Abdullah Zaidel, SEDC chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar (Dr) Abdul Aziz Husain and SEDC general manager Abdul Hadi Abdul Kadir.
