PENANG has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening economic, trade and cultural ties with Indonesia through the launch of the Penang Pavilion at the 50th Pekan Raya Sumatera Utara (PRSU), positioning the state as a gateway for business, investment and innovation in the region.
Officiating the launch on Sunday (July 5), state Trade and National Unity Committee chairman Goh Choon Aik said Penang’s participation in the month-long exposition reflects the state government’s continuous efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation with North Sumatra across trade, investment, tourism, medical tourism and social development.
“The special relationship between Penang and Medan, founded through our Sister City ties, has long served as a strong foundation for collaboration in various fields.
“Guided by this spirit of friendship, Penang’s participation in PRSU symbolises our unwavering commitment to further enhancing mutually beneficial cooperation between Penang and North Sumatra,” he said in his speech.
The Penang Pavilion, themed “Discover Penang: From Penang to Indonesia, Business Beyond Borders”, is among the highlights of the 50th edition of PRSU, which runs from July 3 to Aug 2.
Goh said Penang remained one of Malaysia’s leading economic powerhouses, recording a trade value of RM956.37 billion in 2025, while exports between January and May this year reached RM349.35 billion, underscoring the state’s strength as a regional trade, high-tech manufacturing, innovation and logistics hub.
“These achievements clearly reflect Penang’s position as a regional hub for trade, high-technology manufacturing, innovation and port activities,” he said.
While Penang continues to excel in the electrical and electronics (E&E) and semiconductor industries, Goh stressed that the state government is equally committed to empowering micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), describing them as the backbone of the economy.
He said 22 Penang entrepreneurs were selected to participate in this year’s fair from more than 60 applications, showcasing a wide range of quality products, including food and beverages, halal products, health and beauty items, handicrafts and locally made products with strong export potential.
“This participation is not merely about promoting Penang’s products and services.
“It also creates opportunities for our entrepreneurs to establish new business networks and expand their access to the Indonesian market, particularly North Sumatra,” he said.
In conjunction with PRSU, Penang is also organising a series of business matching programmesinvolving companies and entrepreneurs from Malaysia and Indonesia to explore new trade and investment opportunities.
Goh added that the state government sees significant untapped potential for further collaboration with North Sumatra, particularly in the halal industry, with Penang Deputy Chief Minister I expected to visit Medan later this month to strengthen cooperation in the sector.
Beyond business, the Penang Pavilion offers visitors a taste of the state’s rich heritage through displays featuring iconic local delicacies such as nasi kandar, pasembor, mee sotong, mee udang, mee Jawa, roti Benggali and the crowd-favourite flying roti canai demonstration by Mamu Roti Canai.
Visitors can also participate in the “Passport to Penang” activity, designed to encourage exploration of the pavilion while learning about Penang’s products, tourism offerings and cultural heritage.
The pavilion will also host the Penang Cultural Showcase on July 26, featuring cultural performances and a Peranakan kebaya fashion presentation, highlighting the state’s unique multicultural identity.
“I am confident that the close relationship between Penang and North Sumatra will continue to flourish through stronger cooperation, bringing shared prosperity to both regions,” Goh said.
Present at the launch were Penang State Secretary Datuk Seri Zulkifli Long, Batu Uban assemblyman A. Kumaresan, Sungai Puyu assemblyman Phee Syn Tze, Komtar assemblyman Teh Lai Heng, and, consul-general of Malaysia in Medan, Shahril Nizam Abdul Malek.
Following the ceremony, the delegation toured the Penang Pavilion, visiting the Mamu Roti Canai stall and other booths operated by Penang entrepreneurs showcasing the state’s products and services to visitors throughout the month-long exposition.
Story by Kevin Vimal
Pix by Siew Chia En