PENANG’s strong talent pool, growing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), and collaborative ecosystem between the government, industry and academia continue to strengthen the state’s position as a preferred destination for global business services (GBS).
These were among the key takeaways during a courtesy visit by a Citigroup delegation to Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow at his office in Komtar today.
The delegation highlighted Penang’s evolution from a traditional back-office operations hub into a centre undertaking higher-value-added work, supported by a highly skilled local workforce.
Citigroup Transaction Services (CTSM) Penang head Rohit Pushp said the Penang centre, which has been operating for 33 years, now provides global support across Asia, North America and Europe, particularly in trade services.
“Our teams have built deep expertise over the years, especially in trade, and today they are not only supporting operations but also providing advisory services to clients and leveraging AI to enhance productivity and move further up the value chain,” he said.
Terri Gerosa, chief administrative officer for the chief operating officer overseeing Citi Solutions Centre Network, described Penang as one of Citi’s most important global service centres.
“Our most important clients and products are supported from Penang. We were impressed to see how teams here are embracing AI and preparing the workforce for the future while continuing to deliver high-quality services,” she said.
Gerosa also praised the maturity of the local workforce, noting that many senior leaders had risen through the ranks after beginning their careers in Penang.
Meanwhile, Head of Corporate Shared Services Evelin Ducsai said the delegation was particularly impressed by the calibre of local talent.
“The majority of our leadership team here are locals who have grown within the organisation or were recruited from local universities. That is unique and demonstrates the strength of Penang’s talent ecosystem,” she said.
South Asia Operations head Abhijit Kumta said Penang was among Citi’s earliest centres in Asia and has continued to grow in importance over the decades.
“It is probably one of our oldest centres in Asia. The vision shown when the centre was first established has certainly paid off, and today it stands among our key global operations,” he said.
Chow welcomed Citi’s continued investment in Penang and said the state’s close collaboration between the government, industry, and higher education institutions has been instrumental in developing industry-ready talent.
“The beauty of Penang lies in the strong ecosystem collaboration between the government, industry and academia.
“That partnership has enabled companies to secure the skilled workforce they need while creating higher-value career opportunities for our people,” he said.
Besides discussing talent development and AI adoption, both sides also exchanged views on Penang’s future growth, heritage conservation, corporate social responsibility initiatives and opportunities to further strengthen the state’s technology and financial ecosystem.
Story by Kevin Vimal
Pix by Law Suun Ting