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The Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association (MSIA) celebrated Penang’s 50th anniversary of industrial excellence via a gala dinner at the Eastern & Oriental Hotel Monday evening.

The event was attended by some 300 members of the industry.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said technology is expected to bring transformation to the industry in the next decades.

“As we all have witnessed, digitalisation was accelerated globally during the Covid-19 pandemic. In Malaysia, the digital economy is expected to contribute 23% of the country’s GDP and create over 500,000 jobs by 2025.

“With that in mind, Penang pledges to make great strides in developing the digital economy ecosystem.

“This includes the readiness of physical and digital infrastructure, availability of workforce and enhancing the livability stature.

“These are critical to sustaining our status as the Silicon Valley of the East,” Chow said during his speech at the dinner.

Chow shared that the state has undertaken various efforts related to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) to build a healthy talent pipeline to meet the industrial demands.

“I would like to ask for more industry support and partnership for our STEM initiatives to help cultivate an industry-ready talent pool in this fast-paced environment.

“The tripartite partnership (Public, Private and People) is critical in charting Penang’s path to become a high-income state as well as creating quality jobs.

“Together, we can make a huge leap forward, making the state shine on the world map of technology,” he added.

Chow said that Penang’s 50 years of industrialisation journey has impacted the local economy in terms of raising the state’s gross domestic product (GDP), uplifting the skill set of the local workforce, as well as having huge economic spill-over effects on the country.

He also added that the state government will be holding a grand dinner on Dec 2 to honour the industry pioneers who have laid the groundwork for Penang with regard to the E&E industry.

At the event, the launching of the MSIA ‘Silicone North’ map also took place.

Apart from that, several companies, namely TF-AMD, Motorola, Keysight Technologies, Intel Malaysia, Broadcom, Sanmina, and Agilent Technologies were recognised during the dinner.

Meanwhile, MSIA president Datuk Seri Wong Siew Hai lauded Penang for its successful 50 years of industrialisation journey.

“With the E&E powering the state for the past 50 years, the gross domestic product (GDP) has grown from RM964 million in 1972 to RM99 billion in 2021.

“This is equivalent to adding about RM2 billion every year to Penang’s economy for the past 50 years.

“The E&E ecosystem in Penang has been further strengthened by companies filling the gap in the E&E supply chain and existing E&E companies moving up the value chain,” Wong added.

The MSIA later contributed RM80,000 to Tech Dome Penang in supporting its STEM initiatives.

The mock cheque for the contribution was presented by Wong to Deputy Chief Minister II Prof Dr P. Ramasamy, who is also the Penang Human Resources, Education, Science and Technology Committee chairman.

Image Credit: Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association (MSIA)

Source: Buletin Mutiara