Skip to content
Kuala Lumpur · Malaysia · ASEAN
Contact TAPiO

Search TAPiO

Type at least two characters to see results.

Browse the full search page

TAPiO News

TAPiO Delivers Bavaria-Malaysia Biotech and Lifesciences B2B Exchange

TAPiO Management Advisory brought Bavarian business leaders together with Malaysian healthcare, MedTech, BioTech and pharmaceutical companies for a dedicated B2B Exchange in Kuala Lumpur, organised in collaboration with Bayern International.

Kuala Lumpur, 4 November 2026

TAPiO Management Advisory was pleased to organise and deliver the Bavaria-Malaysia B2B Exchange at Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur on 3 November 2026, following months of preparation together with Bayern International.

The exchange formed part of the official Bavarian business delegation to Malaysia and Singapore, led by State Secretary Tobias Gotthardt, Head of Delegation, from the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy. We greatly appreciate the trust Bayern International placed in TAPiO to coordinate the Malaysian B2B session and to identify relevant local companies for the visiting delegation.

Bavarian Delegation and some of Malaysian Participants at Bavaria-Malaysia B2B Exchange
Bavarian Delegation and some of Malaysian Participants at Bavaria-Malaysia B2B Exchange.

Connecting Bavarian and Malaysian businesses

The morning began with short introductions from the Bavarian companies before moving into direct business discussions with their Malaysian counterparts.

Welcome remarks by Ms. Diane Mc Adam representative of Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs
Welcome remarks by Ms. Diane Mc Adam representative of Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs
Welcome remarks by Mr. Thomas Bernthaler, Managing Director of TAPiO Management Advisory
Welcome remarks by Mr. Thomas Bernthaler, Managing Director of TAPiO Management Advisory

The Malaysian side included C-suite executives and senior management from Pharmaniaga Berhad, BIG CARING GROUP Berhad, Sunway Healthcare Group, Prince Court Medical Centre and Selgate Healthcare, alongside specialist biotechnology and MedTech companies, manufacturers, research organisations and industry associations from across Malaysia.

We were particularly pleased to see participants travelling from outside Kuala Lumpur, including Penang and Johor, to take part. The strength of the exchange came from the variety of companies and expertise in the room, from major healthcare groups to highly specialised businesses.

The discussions covered potential cooperation in areas including medical technology, biotechnology, pharmaceutical development, manufacturing, distribution, research and international market expansion. Several promising conversations started during the morning, and TAPiO will continue to support follow-up discussions where we can help move them forward.

Business discussions with Pharmaniaga and 5med GmbH representatives during the B2B Exchange
Business discussions with Pharmaniaga and 5med GmbH representatives during the B2B Exchange.
Left to right: Ms. Carmen Lee, Business Development Director of TAPiO; Mr. Thomas Bernthaler, Managing Director of TAPiO; Ms. Katja Krause, Manager Business Delegations / Deputy Head of Division of Bayern International
Left to right: Ms. Carmen Lee, Business Development Director of TAPiO; Mr. Thomas Bernthaler, Managing Director of TAPiO; Ms. Katja Krause, Manager Business Delegations / Deputy Head of Division of Bayern International.
Team TAPiO
Team TAPiO

Part of a wider Team Germany effort

The B2B Exchange was one part of a broader programme of political, institutional and business engagements during the Bavarian delegation's visit to Malaysia.

In the spirit of Team Germany, different organisations contributed to the programme in their respective areas. The Malaysian-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MGCC/AHK Malaysia) coordinated other institutional and business engagements, while TAPiO worked with Bayern International on the dedicated Malaysia B2B Exchange.

The evening before the exchange, TAPiO Chairman Bernhard Schutte and Managing Director Thomas Bernthaler were also pleased to join a reception hosted by H.E. Silke Riecken-Daerr, German Ambassador to Malaysia, at her residence in Kuala Lumpur.

The reception welcomed the Bavarian delegation and included the ceremonial inauguration of Bavaria's Economic Representation for Southeast Asia, based in Bangkok, in the presence of State Secretary Tobias Gotthardt. It was also a welcome opportunity to reconnect with longstanding partners and friends from the German-Malaysian business community.

Ceremonial inauguration of Bavaria's Economic Representation for Southeast Asia at the German Ambassador's reception on 2 November 2026
Ceremonial inauguration of Bavaria's Economic Representation for Southeast Asia at the German Ambassador's reception on 2 November 2026.
Mr. Thomas Bernthaler, Managing Director of TAPiO; State Secretary Tobias Gotthardt, and Bernhard Schutte, Chairman of TAPiO (left to right) at the Welcome Dinner Reception hosted by H.E. Silke Riecken-Daerr, German Ambassador to Malaysia
Mr. Thomas Bernthaler, Managing Director of TAPiO; State Secretary Tobias Gotthardt, and Bernhard Schutte, Chairman of TAPiO (left to right) at the Welcome Dinner Reception hosted by H.E. Silke Riecken-Daerr, German Ambassador to Malaysia.
Welcome Dinner Reception hosted by H.E. Silke Riecken-Daerr, German Ambassador to Malaysia. (Left to right) Mr. Chris Schmid, Managing Director South East Asia QSC (KL) of Hapag-Lloyd AG; Mr. Bernhard Schutte, Chairman of TAPiO; Dato' Abu Bakar Yusof, CEO of the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE); Ms. Wilaiwan P. Schroeder, Representative of Bavarian Trade and Investment Office Southeast Asia; Mr. Thomas Bernthaler, Managing Director of TAPiO
Welcome Dinner Reception hosted by H.E. Silke Riecken-Daerr, German Ambassador to Malaysia. (Left to right) Mr. Chris Schmid, Managing Director South East Asia QSC (KL) of Hapag-Lloyd AG; Mr. Bernhard Schutte, Chairman of TAPiO; Dato' Abu Bakar Yusof, CEO of the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE); Ms. Wilaiwan P. Schroeder, Representative of Bavarian Trade and Investment Office Southeast Asia; Mr. Thomas Bernthaler, Managing Director of TAPiO.

Thank you to everyone who made it possible

Our sincere thanks go to Bayern International for the trust placed in TAPiO and for the excellent cooperation throughout the preparation and delivery of the exchange.

It was a pleasure working closely with Katja Krause, Manager Business Delegations and Deputy Head of Division at Bayern International, and Diane Mc Adam, Policy Officer for Trade Shows and Exhibitions Abroad at the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy, throughout the programme.

We would also like to thank Beate Jäckel, Regional Manager for South Asia, Southeast Asia and Oceania at the Bavarian Ministry, for her support, as well as State Secretary Tobias Gotthardt, Head of Delegation, for his engagement during the visit.

A special thank you to Daniel P. Kaeflein, General Manager of Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur, and his team for their outstanding hospitality and support throughout the morning, as well as Executive Chef Eric Fettke and his team for the wonderful breakfast spread.

Most importantly, thank you to all Bavarian and Malaysian participants who made the time to join us, share their experience and explore opportunities together.

We look forward to continuing the conversations started in Kuala Lumpur, supporting promising connections where appropriate and welcoming more Bavarian companies to Malaysia in the future.

For TAPiO, the exchange was another opportunity to do what matters most in international business development: bring the right people together and help turn introductions into opportunities.