The JV, SBi APAC is based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Small Bone Innovations (Sbi) has reported the formation of a joint venture with Khazanah Nasional Berhad (Khazanah) and Malaysian Technology Development (MTDC). The joint venture, SBi Asia Pacific (SBi APAC), is based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The company said that Florian Kemmerich, president of SBi International, will oversee the implementation and execution of SBi’s expansion in the underpenetrated Asia Pacific market from its newly established Malaysian hub.

Torsten Fuehrer, as newly appointed general manager of the joint venture, is leading the establishment of SBi APAC and reports to Mr. Kemmerich. He has a background to execute SBi’s plans in the region based on his many years of experience in management and healthcare in Asia Pacific, said the company.

Reportedly, Mr. Fuehrer, who has lived and worked in Asia for 12 years and is based in Kuala Lumpur, has set up three offices/entities in the region for global medical and technology businesses and is familiar with the healthcare markets in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and China, as well as other countries in the region.

Additionally, SBi APAC has recently expanded its management with the hiring of a senior finance manager and a regional sales manager, each with more than a decade of experience in Asia in their particular fields.

Anthony Viscogliosi, chairman and CEO of SBi, said: “The establishment of SBi APAC continues the execution of our global hub strategy. Malaysia offers several advantages for companies seeking to expand in the region, including its business-friendly economy, strong regional growth prospects, productive workforce, world-class infrastructure, and its central location in the Asia Pacific geography.

“SBi’s European hub, based in France, is a key reason why the company has a strong, local market share and, in the last two years, has increased sales by 56 %, a rate substantially in excess of overall growth in the small bone and joint market. We expect a similar dynamic will evolve in Asia Pacific due to our focus and the creation of our hub in Kuala Lumpur.”