| |
| |
| |
| Penang As Outsourcing And Training Hub |
| |
| |
| In view of recent challenges from emerging economies in the region and a weakening global economy, Penang's new Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng unveils new strategies to drive the state forward. |
| |
| THE new Penang state government wants to develop the state into an outsourcing and training centre for new industries. |
| |
| Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng told StarBiz that the animation business was one of the industries being explored. |
| |
| “An animation valley should preferably be located on the island. It should comprise private schools and animation companies. |
| |
| “The schools can provide the training while the companies can receive jobs outsourced from overseas countries,” he said. |
| |
| Lim said the idea was to model the centre after the Hamburger University owned by fast-food chain McDonald's. “Students trained at the university are then sent to the different outlets of the group worldwide. |
| |
| “Similarly students trained by the schools can obtain employment from the companies at the centre. This would help Penang to become an animation hub in the Asean region,” he said. |
| |
| According to Lim, many local students trained in the animation field at public vocational schools have to go to other countries such as Singapore to find work. |
| |
| “With such a centre here, they can stay back in Penang instead,” he said. Lim envisions the centre as a private and public initiative. “The state government would look into giving appropriate incentives for the private sector to take part in the project,” he said. |
| |
| Lim said the state government would continue leveraging on its core competencies in the manufacturing and electronic sectors. |
| |
| “We will also carry on looking for new investments that can offer highpaying jobs,” he added. |
| |
| On the housing sector, Lim said the Malaysia My Second Home Programme (MM2H) was an important source of revenue for the state. |
| |
| “The bulk of investment for MM2H comes to Penang, amounting to about RM500mil per annum. |
| |
| “We will take immediate steps to clean up the beaches, beef up security and introduce new tourism products to attract more investments into Penang for second homes,” he said. |
| |
| Lim said the state government was also exploring the setting up of an international exposition centre at the current Pesta site in Sungai Nibong. |
| |
| “Besides the Penang International Sports Arena (PISA), we need to have another centre for exhibition purposes. |
| |
| “The plan is also to have a food and beverage complex to showcase the well-known local delicacies,” he said |
| |
| |
|
| |
| |
Close Window