BATU KAWAN (Nov 12): US-based medical devices company Dexcom Inc has officially opened its new manufacturing facility, also its first offshore manufacturing site outside the US, in Batu Kawan, Penang.

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the RM2.83 billion strategic investment will bring more than 3,000 jobs to the state, contributing to a workforce set to positively impact the lives of over three million people worldwide. 

Dexcom, founded in 1999, is a global leader in continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology for individuals living with diabetes. 

“The establishment of this new facility highlights Dexcom’s continued commitment to taking control of health through innovative CGM systems. 

“It also reaffirms Penang’s reputation as a global hub for advanced technological industries, reinforcing its position as a preferred destination for high-quality manufacturing and innovation,” the chief minister said in his speech at the opening ceremony here on Tuesday.

Penang Development Corporation chief executive officer Datuk Aziz Bakar, InvestPenang CEO Datuk Loo Lee Lian, and Dexcom chief operating officer Jake Leach were also present at the event.

Chow said Penang is on the right path towards becoming the medical technology (medtech) hub of Southeast Asia by leveraging the state’s over 50 years of industry excellence.

“Housing the largest number of medtech companies nationally and regionally, Penang remains a highly attractive location for its infrastructure availability and ecosystem that meet the needs of the medtech industry. 

“For the past five years (2019-2023), Penang garnered a total of RM5.8 billion worth of investments in the scientific and measuring equipment sector, representing 45% of the nation’s total investments in this sector, involving 33 projects and generating an estimated 4,630 employment opportunities,” he said.

Dubbed the Silicon Valley of the East, Penang has reportedly the highest concentration of medtech companies in Malaysia and Southeast Asia to date. 

Chow added that Penang maintained its lead as the nation’s top exporter in September, with a 37.5% share or RM46.5 billion of total trade.

Meanwhile, in a statement on Tuesday, Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) CEO Datuk Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid said Dexcom’s establishment in Malaysia signifies a pivotal moment for the country’s medical devices sector. 

He highlighted that the state-of-the-art facility would drive advancements in Malaysia’s point-of-care segment, which would create high-value job opportunities and facilitate technology transfer. 

“This project aligns with the objectives of our New Industrial Master Plan 2030, particularly in fostering economic complexity through innovation and nurturing a skilled talent pool. 

“Mida is confident that the country’s supply chain resilience will further bolster Dexcom’s growth trajectory in Malaysia by enhancing the local supplier ecosystem,” he added.

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