PENANG has taken another significant step towards strengthening its position as a leading regional business events destination following a strategic collaboration between Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB) and Edaran Otomobil Nasional Berhad (EON Berhad).
The partnership, formalised through the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU), aims to enhance Penang’s business events ecosystem through innovation, sustainable mobility solutions and cross-industry collaboration.
The initiative will also see EON Berhad introduced as the official mobility partner for conferences and business events in Penang, in line with the state’s broader green and sustainability agenda.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow welcomed the collaboration, describing it as a meaningful step towards building a more sustainable and future-ready business events industry in Penang.
“This collaboration reflects Penang’s continued commitment towards building a more sustainable and future-ready business events industry.
“The introduction of electric vehicles into the ecosystem of conferences and business events is a meaningful step in supporting greener mobility solutions while enhancing the overall visitor experience.
“Partnerships such as this not only strengthen Penang’s position as a preferred business events destination, but also reinforce our aspirations towards responsible and sustainable economic growth,” he said during the MoU signing at St Giles Wembley Hotel in George Town today.
Chow said the collaboration demonstrated that Penang was actively shaping its future through practical, forward-looking partnerships.
“That is why today’s collaboration matters. It brings together the business events and automotive sectors in a way that supports not only convenience but also innovation and sustainability.
“In a competitive environment, destinations are judged not merely by what they have, but by what they can offer. Penang must therefore continue to move forward with ideas and solutions that improve the overall experience for organisers, delegates and visitors,” he said.
He added that Penang could not afford to wait for change to happen, stressing the need for proactive action and strategic cooperation.
“My message today is simple. Penang must remain proactive. We cannot afford to wait for change to happen around us. We must shape it.
“We must continue to build partnerships that are practical, future-ready and capable of delivering real outcomes for our people and our economy,” he said.
Chow also highlighted the significance of the initiative, noting that PCEB had become the first convention bureau in Malaysia to establish such a strategic collaboration within the automotive sector aimed at enhancing business events experiences through sustainable mobility solutions.
“This is not only a milestone for Penang, but also a meaningful contribution to the development of Malaysia’s business events industry.
“It also fits well with the Penang2030 vision, which is about creating a state that is more liveable, more competitive, more inclusive and more sustainable,” he added.
Meanwhile, PCEB chief executive officer Ashwin Gunasekeran said the collaboration represented another important milestone in fostering strategic partnerships that contribute towards the continued growth of Penang’s business events industry.
“This collaboration reflects the growing importance of strategic partnerships in strengthening Penang’s business events ecosystem.
“By bringing together the business events and automotive industries, we can create greater opportunities for engagement, innovation and industry visibility, while further enhancing Penang’s position as a leading destination for regional and international business events,” he said.
Ashwin added that the initiative was expected to support greener event operations while encouraging environmentally responsible practices within the business events ecosystem.
EON Berhad chief operating officer Azwan Yahaya said the collaboration reinforced the company’s commitment towards accelerating sustainable mobility across Malaysia.
“Through our multi-brand electric vehicle portfolio, we can actively support Penang’s green ambitions by delivering cleaner, more efficient transport solutions.
“This partnership demonstrates our shared determination to drive meaningful progress towards a low-carbon future,” he said.
The collaboration is also expected to enhance brand engagement and create meaningful opportunities for participation across conferences, exhibitions, forums and industry-related events held in Penang.
Chow noted that the business events industry played a much wider role in driving economic growth than many realised, as it supported hotels, restaurants, transport providers, retailers and local businesses while contributing towards networking, talent development, investment attraction and international visibility.
“When this sector grows, its benefits are felt across the broader economy.
“That is why initiatives such as this should be encouraged. They strengthen Penang’s value proposition and help ensure that we remain a destination of choice for regional and international business events,” he said.
He also commended PCEB for its continued efforts in elevating Penang’s profile and broadening opportunities within the state’s business events ecosystem, while expressing appreciation to EON Berhad for supporting the initiative towards a more sustainable and experience-driven business events landscape.
Also present was Pengkalan Kota assemblyman Wong Yuee Harng.
Story by Kevin Vimal
Pix by Darwina Mohd Daud
Video by Siti Nuratikah Rahmat