The Edge Financial Daily, June 20, 2008
Melaka to house RM450m
biotherapeutic plant
By Cindy Yeap
SAN DIEGO (California): Melaka, dubbed as Malaysia’s
historical state for years, may soon acquire a new
fame as efforts to promote itself as a preferred
investment destination in areas like biotechnology
and health tourism bear fruit.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said a
RM450 million integrated biotherapeutics plant that
will be housed in the state was a significant boost
even as Melaka looked to seal its position as a
leading biotechnology state.
“Just as Melaka was the bustling city back in the
14th century, we are now back as a very active
player in Malaysia’s development. We’re experiencing
record high foreign direct investments (FDIs).
“Some US$2 billion (RM6.6 billion) worth of
investments have been received by Malacca so far
this year in both biotechnology and manufacturing,
way ahead of the US$4.8 million it attained between
year 2000 and 2007... surpassing many times our
target of RM3 billion worth of annual investments
every year,” Mohd Ali told reporters here on
Wednesday.
He was speaking after witnessing the exchange of
agreements for the setting up of the RM450 million
biotherapeutics facility, which uses biotechnology
to produce new drugs to combat diseases like
cardiovascular disorder, diabetes and cancer.
Other conglomerates that have chosen to house their
manufacturing facilities in Melaka include Infineon
Technologies, Creative Technologies, Matsushita and
Honda.
Vivo Bio chairman emeritus Vishwanath Komplella said
the strategic location between two major airports —
Kuala Lumpur International Airport and Singapore’s
Changi Airport — as well as the speeds at which
their applications were able to be processed and
approved, were two key reasons for its choice of
Melaka.
“If you look at our business plans, we are not here
for one year or two years but for the long-term… we
believe we can grow our business here,” Komplella
said. The facility, to be built in Alor Gajah, is
expected to start operations by end-2010.
The Melaka government, which will provide the land
for the facility, has a 20% stake in the venture via
Melaka Biotech Holdings Sdn Bhd. Hyderabad-based
Vivo Bio Tech Ltd (India) is the majority
shareholder of the venture with 51% stake, while
Vanguard Creative Technologies Sdn Bhd holds the
remaining 29%.
Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation Sdn Bhd chief
executive officer Datuk Iskandar Mizal Mahmood said
the project would bring significant benefits to
Malaysia in the medical field, especially in terms
of commercialising life sciences research and
development.
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