KUALA LUMPUR: BCM Alliance Bhd (BCMA) today bagged RM320 million of supply contract for Covid-19 test kits via its wholly owned subsidiary BC Medical Sdn Bhd (BMSB).
BMSB inked an agreement to supply a total of 10 million Covid-19 RTK Antigen kits to MTPS Innotech (Thailand) Co Ltd (MTPS) which will be shipped in batches and exported to Thailand over a period of one year.
The first batch would be 1.5 million kits, valued at RM48 million (US$12 million).
BCMA executive director Hoo Swee Guan said the company is gearing towards becoming a major distributor in medical related products in Malaysia and South East Asia region.
Hoo said even though the Covid-19 vaccination programmes are being rolled out worldwide including Malaysia, everyone has to continue to learn to live with the virus which mutates and these mutated viruses will be lingering around for many years to come.
"The new norm of social distancing, use of facemask, gloves, test kits and vaccination would continue.
"We expect there will be a huge demand for the new crown pneumonia virus testing business," he said.
Hoo said the market demand for test kits is expected to skyrocket when cross border travelling is allowed.
BCMA has decided to enter the market to seize the lucrative business opportunities.
"In the future, when the country reopens, visitors and foreign workers working in this region including Malaysia will most likely need to undergo mandatory testing, and the demand for testing kits will further escalate.
"Combining various phenomena, Covid-19 testing market in this region is very positive, and the demand for testing kits is very high," he said.
BCMA will send 200 free kits to MTPS in Thailand for clinical trial and registration.
BCMA would also assist MTPS and provide the relevant information and documents required for the purposes of product registration.
Thereafter, the first batch of kits will be shipped to buyers. The remaining amount of test kit will be delivered in accordance with the schedule agreed by both parties.