CIBA Vision Corp, a global leader in the research, development and manufacturing of optical and ophthalmic products and services, will invest RM500mil to build an integrated contact lens manufacturing plant in Malaysia.

The plant will be located at Johor's Tanjung Pelepas Free Trade Zone, the Atlanta-based company's head of global supply chain, Michael Dilworth, said.
The investment will spread over eight years, he said at a press conference to announce the project in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Earlier, Dilworth had a meeting with International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz, at her office.

CIBA Vision is the eye care unit of Novartis AG, a world leader in pharmaceuticals and consumer health.

Dilworth said the new facility, expected to be operational in December 2007, would produce one of the most technological advanced high-oxygen transmissible products, O2OPTIX - breathable contact lenses.

“The reasons for CIBA Vision's choice of Johor for this project are Malaysia's political stability, the strong economic fundamentals and the ability of related industries to support this investment,” he said.

“A key factor for us is its proximity to existing CIBA Vision manufacturing plants in Batam, Indonesia, and Singapore,” he added.

The Johor plant would produce 300,000 lenses daily and would gradually be increased to 500,000 in the later stage, Dilworth said, adding that the project would create 2,000 to 3,000 jobs in the later part of operation.

The O2OPTIX lenses are made from a silicone hygrogel, lotrafilcon b, the newest material used in contact lenses.

The lens' breathability enables wearers to nap or even sleep in them for up to six nights of extended wear, as recommended by eye care professionals.