Five new projects in Malaysia with a total investment value of RM388.1 million, or US$119.14 million, were approved by the country's National Key Economic Area today. The five projects will have an expected gross income of RM445.2 million.

According to the country's Health Minister Datuk Seri S Subramaniam, the five investments will produce almost 1,600 new jobs for Malaysians. The said placements will be finished by the year 2020, according to the minister.

The local investments were from the following companies: ABio Orthopaedics (RM224.5 million), Kotra Pharma (RM60 million), Karl Mueller Scientific Sdn Bhd (RM1.4 million), Sima Medical (RM7.7 million), and RB Lifescience (RM94.5 million).

"Currently Malaysia relies on imported infusion products which are costly. It is timely to have a manufacturing capability on our home ground," he said, talking about the current healthcare industry in the Southeast Asian country. He believed that the investments will increase local production and lessen imports.