Edwards Lifesciences launches regional business services centre in Kuala Lumpur

Global medical technology company Edwards Lifesciences (Edwards) launched its regional business services centre (BSC) located at KL Eco City yesterday.

Officiating the launch ceremony today was Deputy Minister of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), Yang Berhormat, Dr Ong Kian Ming; United States Ambassador to Malaysia, Her Excellency Kamala Shirin Lakhdhir; Edwards Lifesciences’ Corporate Vice President Japan, Asia and Pacific, Dr Huimin Wang; and Chief Executive Officer of InvestKL, Datuk Zainal Amanshah.

The new Edwards BSC is expected to provide key support functions such as HR, finance, IT, supply chain, digital health, marketing and quality assurance to seven offices across the Japan, Asia and Pacific (JAPAC) region. Through the BSC, Edwards expects to invest RM100 million in Malaysia over the next 5 years.

In the next phase of BSC growth, Edwards plans on setting up an analytics Centre of Excellence and hopes to attract talented employees with expertise in artificial intelligence & machine learning, data management, big data analytics and digital, to join the company. These talents will help support business needs in the JAPAC region out of the KL BSC office, and more importantly, use their expertise to help patients with structural heart disease.

Edwards' initial hiring plans for 2019 are focused on adding approximately 60 new employees that will take on corporate services roles and business leadership positions.

Edwards aims to provide educational and professional opportunities to its employees to grow their abilities not only in Malaysia, but also across the region. It also intends to offer community engagement activities through employee volunteerism and the Edwards Lifesciences Foundation, which was established to strengthen and support Edwards’ passion for helping people around the world.

On the reason for choosing Malaysia for its new BSC for the JAPAC region, Dr Wang cited the country's cultural diversity, highly-capable multilingual talent pool, business-friendly policies and strong infrastructure.

He added: "We are in the business of saving people’s lives and we are looking for likeminded individuals to join us and grow with us,and also to help us build and strengthen our community engagement throughout Malaysia."

Photo / Provided Photo caption: From left to right: Datuk Zainal Amanshah, Dr. Huimin Wang, Yang Berhormat Dr. Ong Kian Ming, Her Excellency Kamala Shirin Lakhdhir and Erik Ramp posing for a group photo in front of Edwards Lifesciences new Regional Business Services Centre.