Speech By Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng During The “Penang-Phuket and Thailand-Malaysia trade, investment, tourism, economic and development co-operation Business Dialogue” in Hotel Metropole, Phuket Released On 19.9.2014.
September 18, 2014 marks the culmination of a 100-year engagement between Penang and Phuket where both cities are now “married” through friendship city status signed between the President of Penang Municipal Council(MPPP) Dato Patahiyah binti Ismail and Phuket Mayor Mrs Somjai Suwansupana. I wish to thank Penang State EXCO member Chow Kon Yeow, Phuket Governor Mr Maitri Inthusut, Ambassador of Thailand to Malaysia Mr Krit Kraichitti and Consul-General of Thailand to Penang Mrs Srirat Vathesatogkit for making the signing of the MOU of Friendship City status possible.
Though it took 10 years to renew our friendship, it is better late than never. Has it not been said that whilst it would take 10 years to plant a tree, it would take 100 years to teach a man.
Thailand is one of the 3 neighbouring countries (the others being Indonesia and Singapore) where Phuket and Penang are bonded by blood, tied by culture with a shared history and driven by common values of honesty, hard work and tolerance of new ideas and diversity. Whilst we have a shared past, the future would depend on how both Penang and Phuket can mutually benefit for a win-win formula for both cities.
The opening of ASEAN free trade by 2016 marks a new chapter of trade, investment, tourism, economic and development co-operation for the 600 million people living in ASEAN. The friendship city status between Penang and Phuket marks a new chapter of a mutually beneficial productive relationship exchanging the expertise of Phuket in tourism with technology knowledge of Penang.
Phuket with 70,000 hotel rooms and an annual 12 million tourists has much to teach Penang in terms of networking and promotion of new products, events and experiences. Penang’s entry into the creative cluster due to the presence of of the 3Ts of talent, technology and tolerance can also share our expertise with Phuket.
I am told that I am the first Penang Chief Minister to make an official visit to Phuket. Our high-powered delegation includes 3 other memorandums of understanding(MOUs) comprising of MOUs between the respective Chambers of Commerce, 2 private MOUs of one between Marrybrown and the local franchisee in Thailand and the other one of a purchase of a Phuket hotel by famous Penang businessman Datuk Syed Aidid.
The Penang state government is confident of the joint promise of Penang and Phuket not only because both our cities start with the letter P and our shared Peranakan heritage, but also due to our joint commitment to the 3P partnership of a Public, Private and People Partnership. Let us grow together by learning together, working together so that we can prosper together.
LIM GUAN ENG
槟州首席部长林冠英于2014年9月19日发布其在普吉岛大都会酒店，为《槟城-普吉岛及马泰贸易、投资、旅游、经济及商业合作发展对话会》演词：
槟城与普吉岛的友好城的地位，将能够以普吉岛在旅游方面的专业知识，与槟城的科技知识作专业交换，标志着两地迈入专业知识交换、互惠互利的新篇章。
2014年9月18日是，标志着槟城及普吉岛百年往来的新篇章，因为正式“缔结”为友好城市。这项缔结为友好城市的签署仪式，是由槟岛市政局主席拿督芭堤雅与普吉市市长许得意 代表两地签署。我谨此感谢槟州行政议员曹观友、普吉岛省长Maitri Inthusut、泰国驻马大使Krit Kraichitti 先生及泰国驻槟领事Srirat Vathesatogkit，让此友好城市的签署备忘录仪式，正式落实。
虽然花了10年来更新我们友好城市的地位，但是迟到总好过没到。正如俗语说的，十年树木，百年树人。
泰国是马来西亚3个毗邻国家之一（另两个为印尼与新加坡），普吉岛和槟城血脉相连，有着共同的历史背景、文化及价值观，即诚实、勤奋、能容纳新概念及多元性。虽然我们有着共同的过去，但我们的未来取决于槟城及普吉岛如何找到让双方都能够互惠互利的双赢模式。
2016年东盟自由贸易区的开放，将是东盟区域6亿人口在贸易、投资、旅游、经济及发展合作上的新篇章。槟城-普吉岛的友好城市地位，将能够借普吉岛在旅游方面的专业知识，与槟城的科技知识作专业交换，标志着两地迈入专业知识交换、互惠互利的新篇章。
拥有7万间酒店房、年度1200万入境游客人次的普吉岛，可与槟城分享他们在旅游方面的经验，包括新产品及活动的推广及联系。槟城建立的创意圈（creative cluster），是基于拥有所需的3T， 即人才（talent）、科技（technology）及宽容（tolerance）。这些专业知识，都是槟城可以与普吉岛分享的。
我也被告知，我是第一位到普吉岛进行官方访问的槟州首席部长。我们的高阶层代表团，共签署了另3份谅解备忘录，即双方商会的谅解备忘录、2个私人界的谅解备忘录，其中一份谅解备忘录是本地玛利郎快餐店（Marrybrown）与泰国当地一家特许经营店所签署；另一份谅解备忘录由是本地闻商拿督赛艾迪收购普吉岛一家酒店的谅解备忘录。
槟州政府有信心，槟城及普吉的承诺不只是因为这两个城市都是以P安母为首，或者是我们共同的土生华人传统，而是基于我们两地对3P伙伴关系的承诺，即公共（Public）、私人（Private）及人民（People）伙伴关系。让我们一起学习、一起工作、一起成长，以便我们可以共享繁荣。