JOHOR BAHRU: As part of the strategy to make Johor a bio-medical hub, the state government plans to develop its own pharmapolis by emulating South Korea’s Osong Medical Park.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said it is a long term plan of the state government to develop the bio-medical hub and towards this end, will need a roadmap.
“This is only a start. We will study the plan which includes establishing the pharmapolis.
“The collaboration between J-Biotech and South Korea’s KBIO Health will certainly pave the way in helping us develop the roadmap,” he told reporters after officiating the opening of the Johor International Bioeconomy Conference here yesterday.
Mohamed Khaled said the roadmap would likely see the development of the bio-medical hub, which includes components such a research and development centre, as well as the production of medical devices.
Earlier, J-Biotech signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with KBIO Health to develop a bio-medical cluster in Johor, complete with a condusive ecosystem and ready components.
Apart from that, J-Biotech also signed another two MoUs with JK Medical Group, as well as Rimbunan Serantau Sdn Bhd.
With JK Medical Group, J-Biotech plans to develop a total wellness centre equipped with rejuvenation and recovery facilities.
The MoU with Rimbunan Serantau is on commercialisation activities for biodegradable materials and biocompost.
Meanwhile, J-Biotech Chief Executive Officer Asman Shah Abd Rahman said KBIO Health is a South Korean government agency responsible for the development of the Osong Medical Park, located 45 minutes from Seoul.
“The study (on the biomedical hub roadmap) will start next year and will likely take six to nine months to complete,” he said.
Osong Medical Park or known as Osong Bio-Technopolis, is a state run technopolis for the bio-industry initiated by the South Korean government. — Bernama