GEORGE TOWN, Jan 17 -– Penang is poised to benefit from the era of crossroads for technology as its 50-year industrialisation history forms a strong foundation for the state to propel to greater heights for the next 50 years and beyond.
Special investment adviser to Penang’s Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Lee Kah Choon said Penang’s solid reputation is built on decades of manufacturing excellence and industrial experience, which has translated into far-reaching effects, in terms of moving up the value chain and uplifting the skillset of the local workforce.
“All these have placed the state on the right trajectory to achieve a high-income economy. We are seeing digitalisation, manufacturing excellence and innovation as the key drivers and talent pool expansion as the factors underpinning the drivers’ success,” he said at the launching ceremony of the 50th Anniversary of Penang’s Industrialisation here today.
Lee said the world is currently at a crossroads for technology, the most obvious being when technology meets the economy.
He said the state is in a better position than anywhere in the world to take this shift and move to another level as it possessed the technology, companies and talent.
“During the pandemic, Penang contributed about 32 per cent of Malaysia’s total exports and nearly 60 per cent of the country’s electrical and electronics (E&E) exports.
“We play an important role in sustaining Malaysia’s economic wellbeing as well as in the global supply chain of the technology sector,” he added.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the state has established a public-private partnership with industry leaders to outline and coordinate a year-long event with 12 focused themes to demonstrate Penang’s successful transformation and forward-looking plans.
He said that aside from shining a spotlight on Penang’s 50 years of manufacturing excellence which houses top-notched industry players, the curated themes also focus on industries with countless possibilities, including E&E, Medical Technology, Digital Economy & Global Business Service (GBS), Food Technology and Space Technology.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency