PENANG’S green efforts over the years have grabbed the attention of the European Union (EU) delegation to Malaysia.
European Union (EU) ambassador and head of delegation of the EU to Malaysia Michalis Rokas, who was in Penang for the first time, told Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow that the delegates were keen to know more about the state’s green initiatives, waste management efforts, and digitalisation programmes.
“We are in the phase of programming our actions in Malaysia for the next six years.
“Our financial cycle has been restarted. Our team is identifying areas, in various regions of Malaysia, where we can bring in European expertise and have policy dialogues and expert exchange.
“We would like to know the areas that the Penang government and the local government are focusing. We want to explore ways to intensify the EU’s relation with Malaysia and the states.
“We understand that there are many digital and green programmes in Penang. We will be very pleased to hear from you and your collaborators,” he told Chow during a courtesy visit in Komtar today.
Rokas also praised Penang for taking the lead as the state with the highest recycling rate in the country.
He expressed interest to work together with Penang on waste management plans.
“The recycling effort in Kuala Lumpur, however, is disheartening,” he said.
Meanwhile, Chow said that the state is open to discussion with the EU delegates on solid waste management.
“We are open to discussion on solid waste management, especially waste-to-energy (WtE) initiatives. It is something that we are very keen to work on,” Chow said.
Think City urban solutions programme director Dr Matt Benson, who was present, shared the state’s Penang2030 vision and the mitigation efforts to transform Penang into a low-carbon state.
Dr Benson also spoke about the plans to transform the waterfronts on George Town and Butterworth, creating new economic zones for Penang.
“We look at connecting two drivers of the state’s economy, which is the culture economy and high-tech economy,” he said.
Digital Penang chief executive officer Tony Yeoh said that Penang would have to ride on digitalisation, for the reason that the state’s twin propellers of development are manufacturing and tourism.
“We are working with Think City to create a ‘digital district’ and trying to attract startup digital companies to come in.
“We are also encouraging the people to adopt digital technology, and get to our local companies to go digital,” he said.
The 40-minute meeting was also attended by the head of trade and economic relations of the EU to Malaysia Francesco Floris and trade and economic attaché of the EU to Malaysia Pekka Penttila.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Law Suun Ting