CHIEF Minister Chow Kon Yeow underscored Penang’s rising prominence as a regional technology and services hub during the UST leadership meeting held at Ascott Gurney Penang in George Town yesterday (Jan 21).
Chow noted that the meeting marked the first time UST’s Board convened in Penang, describing it as a strong vote of confidence in Malaysia, and Penang in particular, as a long-term base for the global digital transformation solutions company after nearly 15 years of operations in the state.
“Penang has more than 50 years of industrial experience, and over time we have built a strong ecosystem where industry, academia and government work closely together.
“While we may be small in size, Penang continues to punch above its weight as a destination for high-value investment and innovation,” Chow said in his speech.
In line with national priorities such as the National Semiconductor Strategy (NSS) and the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030), Chow said Penang is actively moving up the value chain, with a strong focus on higher-value activities including integrated circuit (IC) design.
He highlighted the Penang Silicon Design @5km+ (PSD@5KM+) initiative as a key effort, bringing together infrastructure, talent development, mentorship and funding within the Bayan Lepas area to support innovation-led growth.
“These initiatives only succeed when industry comes in as true partners,” he said, expressing appreciation to UST Malaysia for its active engagement in PSD@5KM+ as well as the broader Global Business Services ecosystem.
Chow also acknowledged the leadership and steady contributions of UST Malaysia vice-president and country head Amar Chhajer in strengthening collaboration within this space.
Talent development, Chow stressed, remains at the core of the partnership between Penang and UST.
“Currently, Malaysians make up about 87% of UST’s local workforce, with more than 10,000 Malaysians trained and employed by the company over the years,” he said.
Chow also welcomed UST’s plans to further expand its presence in Malaysia, noting that since the launch of its Penang delivery centre and Innovation Lab in 2020, local teams have delivered solutions to clients worldwide.
“This clearly demonstrates how ideas developed in Penang can create global impact,” he said, adding that the achievements align well with Malaysia’s AI Nation 2030 agenda and further strengthen Penang’s position as a trusted, future-ready digital hub.
Chow also recalled his visit to UST’s headquarters in Aliso Viejo during the company’s 25th anniversary celebrations, which he said gave him deeper insight into UST’s culture, capabilities and long-term vision.
Welcoming open and forward-looking discussions during the meeting, Chow said the Penang government remains keen to hear UST’s views on how the state can further enhance its value proposition and better support the company’s long-term regional plans.
He reaffirmed the state government’s commitment, through InvestPenang and relevant agencies, to continue building a strong ecosystem anchored on infrastructure development, talent cultivation and close collaboration with industry and academia.
“Thank you for your trust in Penang and for the strong partnership we have built over the years.
“I look forward to many more years of working closely together,” he concluded.
Also present were InvestPenang chief executive officer Datuk Loo Lee Lian, Amar, UST chief executive officer Krishna Sudheendra and UST president Alexander Varghese.
Story by Riadz Akmal
Pix by Muhammad Iqbal Hamdan