PENANG Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has stressed the importance of obtaining more industrial land to spur investments in the state.
“Penang drew in RM16.9 billion of total approved manufacturing investments in 2019, and RM14.1 billion last year.
“We attracted over RM30 billion of total approved manufacturing investments in just two years, which is why we need to find more industrial land other than Batu Kawan.
“How can we maintain these achievements and momentum to drive our industry in Penang? What do we have? How can we help to provide our people with more job opportunities?” Chow questioned during a planning and coordination workshop on the proposed master plan of the Batu Kawan Industrial Park 2 today.
The workshop, which was held at Olive Tree Hotel Penang, was organised by Penang Development Corporation (PDC); and was attended by various government agencies.
Chow mentioned about the factors that could attract investors to Penang.
“Investors will look at sustainable living, green and smart state, the quality of life, vibrant cultural art, infrastructure, and education. All these and much more will be considered by the investors before they make a decision to invest in a certain location.
“They will look beyond the cost factor. They will look at the ecosystem, the supply chain, and the availability of workers.
“Land is the most important factor.
“Penang has the advantage of being an industrialised state for the past 50 years but we must not be complacent,” Chow said.
Chow said it is crucial for Penang to get more industrial land ready on top of what it already has.
“The Batu Kawan Industrial Park 2 (BKIP2) in Byram is important to our industrialisation journey for the next 10 to 20 years,” he said.
Chow said the BKIP2 would be the 10th industrial park in Penang.
“The nine industrial parks that have been successfully realised are in Mak Mandin, Perai, Bayan Lepas, Seberang Jaya, Bukit Tengah, Bukit Minyak, Penang Science Park, Penang Science Park North and Batu Kawan Industrial Park,” he said.
Also present were PDC chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Bazid Abd Kahar, senior deputy chief executive officer Datuk Yeoh Lean Huat, and deputy chief executive officer (planning) Aziz Bakar.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis