High-tech industry: An artist impression of the BPO Piazza and the BPO Prime building (right).

Penang Development Corporation (“PDC”) inked a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with Temasek and Economic Development Innovations Singapore Pte Ltd (“EDIS”) on 23 May 2014. PDC and Temasek intend to form a joint-venture company to develop Penang International Technology Park (“PITP”) and Business Process Outsourcing Prime (“BPO Prime”). PDC will hold 51% in the joint-venture company with the remaining stake held by investors, including Temasek. EDIS will provide project management services to the joint-venture company. The gross development value for this project is estimated to be around RM11.3 billion. The MOU is subject, among other things, to the finalisation of definitive documents.

Located in Batu Kawan and in Bayan Baru respectively, PITP and BPO Prime have been identified by the Penang State Government as priority projects for Penang’s development. The PITP and BPO Prime with a size 206.8 acres will be completed over the next 5 to 10 years. BPO Prime will be part of the effort by the state government to fulfil Penang’s destiny as one of the 31 BPO hubs of the future.

Penang has experienced two growth transformations – industrialisation and clustering in the past to become a successful industrialised economy and this development focusing on the services sector will help Penang’s economy move up the value-chain, by driving the third growth wave of knowledge intensive and innovation-led growth.

The project’s vision is to create new clusters of economic development with opportunities to live, work, learn and play in sustainable and innovative urban spaces. The strategies are:

1. Economic development – The influx of activity to the project will provide a significant boost to Penang’s economy and act as a major catalyst for further development
2. High value manufacturing and innovation – The focus will be on attracting market leaders in knowledge-based sectors such as Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), Information Communications and Technology (ICT) and advanced manufacturing that leverage Penang’s existing comparative advantage and capabilities in the electronics industry.
3. Job creation – Job creation will be at the core of the project’s success. The project is expected to generate about 25,000 to 30,000 high income and quality jobs.

This MOU demonstrates the success of PDC’s efforts to collaborate with foreign investors in attracting world-class international companies. Penang witnessed the completion and opening of the Penang Second Bridge on 1st March 2014. On that same day, Penang launched the RM3.3 billion BPO Hub in Batu Kawan and Bayan Baru, which is one of the main components in the MOU signing ceremony today. Over the next three years, Penang is expecting the realisation of a premium outlet, theme park and international golf resort, and the sprouting up of universities in the Education Hub and other business establishments as well as building of over 20,000 units of affordable housing. The new BPO is the beginning of the growth cycle on Penang.

Source: Buletin Mutiara