THE Penang government is optimistic about improving its state gross domestic product (GDP) performance after the last year’s record high.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the confidence was based on the economic sectors that have fully reopened after two years of disruption due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, Penang still managed to top the GDP performance last year. And with the economy fully reopening this year, it should look even much better.
“The manufacturing sector in the state also is going strong. It grew about 12 per cent last year and I hope it will continue to grow this year as well,” Chow told a press conference after the opening ceremony of the TLM Food and Beverage Expo at Setia SPICE Convention Centre today.
He was asked by a journalist to comment on the state GDP performance that was announced yesterday (June 30).
Department of Statistics Malaysia (DoSM) chief statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin, in his media briefing yesterday, announced that the economic performance of all states in the country registered growth in 2021, with five states recording a better growth rate than the 3.1% growth rate at the national level.
He said the five states were Penang with a growth rate of 6.8%, followed by Selangor (5%), Terengganu (3.6%), Perak (3.5%), and Kedah (3.2%).
Chow, in his earlier speech, also said that Penang had the highest GDP at RM99 billion last year, beating other states.
“Based on the DoSM latest released figures, it shows that Penang emerged as the top state in the country with the highest GDP at RM99 billion.
“This is a remarkable rebound of 6.8% from a negative 2.1% two years back in 2020,” said Chow.
Story by Riadz Akmal
Pix by Alissala Thian
Video by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis