THE Penang government has been placing high emphasis on developing a digital and smart state as outlined in the Penang2030 vision of ‘A Family-Focused Green and Smart State that Inspires the Nation’.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the state has been implementing several initiatives to support such development.
He said the state government has, in fact, implemented initiatives to catalyse economic development, entrepreneurship and technology transfer to spur Penang’s digital ecosystem.
“Under the Penang2030 vision, we hope to build a digitally engaged society. This is proven with the setting up of Creative Digital District (CD2) or CD Square in George Town.
“The goal is to create a digital ecosystem of tech start-ups, entrepreneurs, digital services and software companies that can innovate in an environment that promotes ‘Live, Learn, Work and Play’, while retaining the heritage character as it is located in the heritage area.
“The CD2 district will soon feature a 5G network infrastructure, enabling businesses and communities in the vicinity to benefit from high-speed internet.
“In line with the digital transformation plan of Penang, we will also launch the CD2 Sandbox, to house start-ups, accelerators and incubators in our unique heritage-modern environment.
“Thus, all of this initiative shows that the state government is committed to accelerating the digital transformation in Penang as digitalisation has now become an important aspect of our daily lives,” Chow said in his closing keynote address during the Export Excellence Awards 2022 (EEA 2022) Penang Roadshow at St Giles, The Wembley Hotel today.
Also present were Digital Penang chief executive officer Tony Yeoh, Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers Penang (FMM Penang) chairman Datuk Lee Teong Li, Star Media Group chief executive officer Alex Yeow Wai Siaw, Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia Berhad managing director and chief executive officer Abrar A. Anwar and Pentamaster Corp Bhd executive chairman Chuah Choon Bin.
EEA 2022, themed ‘Accelerating Trade Through Digital Technologies’, was organised by the Star Media Group in partnership with Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia Berhad, with PKT Logistics Group as co-sponsor and the Malaysia External Trade Development Corp (Matrade) as patron.
Yeow said the one-day programme was a platform for industry experts to discuss the role of digital technologies in accelerating trade.
“During the event today, there are two panel discussions revolving around the current and future trends anticipated to impact exports.
“Among the panellists today were Yeoh, Lee, Chuah and many others.
“The first discussion also focuses on global economic recovery and technology developments that companies should look into to drive trade expansion.
“Meanwhile, the second panel discussion which focuses on women personalities in the exports industry deep dives into how technology and digital transformation can play an important role in removing barriers to growth for women exporters where Buma Logistics Sdn Bhd director Christy Bong and Hernan Corporation group chief executive officer Anna Teo were among the panellists,” he said.
Speaking about the programme, Chow added that Covid-19 was the storm that brought about not only unimaginable challenges, but also the great acceleration of digitalisation.
“It is also responsible for fast-tracking the current global trade industry and improving the digitalisation progress across every sector, especially in the area of e-commerce,” said Chow.
According to him, the global trade industry is becoming increasingly sophisticated, and hyperconnected as businesses continue to pivot online.
“Thus, businesses need to leverage key technologies to meet consumer needs to remain competitive in the global arena.
“Cloud computing and cloud services have the potential to develop and increase international trade and have been a great platform for innovation.
“With innovation, comes the introduction of new revenue streams. Coupled with artificial intelligence (AI), these technologies can improve flexibility, agility and resilience to digital solutions.
“It also allows businesses to quickly scale operations up or down, ultimately optimising resources and expenses while promoting cost efficiencies. After all, AI has, in large, made global trade more sustainable, increased efficiency gains, and improved consumer service,” he added.
Story by Riadz Akmal
Pix and video by Law Suun Ting