KUALA LUMPUR: Toshiba Corporation has reaffirmed its commitment to invest US$1 billion in Southeast Asia over the next five years and looks to double current sales in the region to US$7 billion in the same period.
Corporate Vice-President and Corporate Representative-Asia Fumio Otani said Toshiba in Malaysia aims to strengthen its presence in areas such as energy, healthcare and building solutions.
Toshiba has been doing business in Malaysia since 1968, initially in consumer electronics which is now represented by Toshiba Sales and Services Sdn Bhd.
Speaking at a press conference here on Toshiba’s Asean strategy moving into 2015, Otani said it has positioned itself in healthcare as one of its three main pillars of business.
“We have built a new medical equipment manufacturing plant in Penang, which became the country’s first maker of diagnostic ultrasound systems,” he said.
In addition, Toshiba is enhancing its capabilities by establishing sales subsidiary Toshiba Medical Systems Malaysia Sdn Bhd last year to assist the country’s medical tourism promotion.
Otani said Toshiba has also been involved in Malaysia’s power generation industry from thermal and hydropower to transmission as well as distribution equipment.
“We will continue to provide technologies, products and solutions that are necessary for life.
With a growing market like Malaysia, we are confident of keeping our business going,” said Otani, who is also Managing Director of Toshiba Asia Pacific Pte Ltd.
“If the business is good here, we will plough in more investment into these areas in the country,” he said, adding that right now it is very challenging given the uncertainties plaguing the economy here. — Bernama