Pakistani Delegation In Malaysia To Attend Healthcare Conference And Expo

KUALA LUMPUR, July 13 (Bernama) -- A nine-member delegation of surgical and dental instruments exporters from Pakistan is in Kuala Lumpur to attend the APHM International Healthcare Conference and Exhibition from July 17-19. The event at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), features 120 booths showcasing the latest technological advances in healthcare by exhibitors from Australia, China, Pakistan, Singapore, Malaysia and the United States. The Pakistani delegation is slated to hold meetings with key stakeholders, including the Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DPMM), the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM), the Malaysia Islamic Chamber of Commerce (DPIM), the Medical Devices Bureau, the Ministry of Health and the Penang state government. The meetings are to explore possibilities for the export of surgical and dental instruments to Malaysia. The delegation is also expected to visit the Tawakkal and Gleneagles Hospitals, besides the Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone in Penang, north Malaysian state. The world market for surgical instruments is over US$30 billion. According to the Surgical Instruments Manufacturers Association of Pakistan (SIMAP), the country's exports in this sector, stood at US$225 million in 2009-2010, while the total capital investment in the surgical industry is estimated at US$212.02 million (20 billion rupees). There are between 1000 to 1200 active small and medium surgical units in Pakistan. The number of workers in the surgical industry is about 500,000. The industry manufactures about 110 million instruments annually. Pakistan mainly exports two types of surgical instruments, including disposable instruments, which constitute 80 per cent of exports, reusable instruments (19 per cent) and advanced devices (one per cent). The leading buyers of Pakistani surgical instruments are United States (US$57 million), Germany (US$34 million), United Kingdom (US$24 million), France (US$11 million), Brazil (US$8 million), Italy (US$7 million), Japan (US$6 million), Australia (US$5 million), UAE (US$5 million) and Mexico (US$4 million). -- BERNAMA