Allow me to begin by extending a very warm welcome to each and every one of you here today.
Globalization and technology allows us to be almost anywhere in the world just as I am here today. As the Chief Minister of Penang, I would like everyone here to know that Penang, beyond being a destination of choice for work, live learn & play, is among the best investment destinations in Malaysia and the region both for tourism and manufacturing.
Australia-Malaysia Bilateral Relations
First a bit on Australia and Malaysia’s history of bilateral cooperation. Last year marked the 60th anniversary of Australia’s diplomatic presence in Malaysia. Malaysia is Australia’s second-largest trading partner in ASEAN and ninth-largest partner overall. In 2014, total merchandise trade between Australia and Malaysia was A$17.5 billion, with Australian exports of A$6.1 billion and imports of A$11.3 billion. Total two-way services trade in 2013-14 was A$3.3 billion, with Australian exports of A$1.8 billion and imports of A$1.5 billion.
Major merchandise exports from Australia to Malaysia include, copper, nickel, coal and wheat. Major Malaysian merchandise exports to Australia include crude petroleum, monitors, projectors and televisions, computers and refined petroleum.
Combined, Australia-Malaysia two-way investment more than doubled over four years from 2010 to a value of A$30.6 billion in 2014. In 2014, Malaysian investment in Australia stood at A$21 billion. Australian companies continue to pursue opportunities in Malaysia, with the stock of Australian foreign investment in Malaysia at A$9.6 billion in 2014. The Australia Malaysia Business Council (AMBC) has been an important coordinating body for commercial linkages.
For the second smallest state of Malaysia, Penang contributes 7% to Malaysia’s GDP with 25% of Malaysia’s total exports and imports. With over 40 years of industrial experience evidenced by the presence of more than 300 multinationals companies, today, Penang is one of the most dynamic, progressive and competitive states in Malaysia. All the top names in the E&E industry are in Penang for example Intel, National Instruments, Robert Bosch, Keysight, Agilent and AMD.
Global Business Services (GBS) Ecosystem in Penang
Penang have well capitalized its manufacturing capabilities and is now ready to move further up the value chain by focusing on high value-added industries such as global business services (GBS). This is evident with the existence of almost 30 GBS companies in Penang providing more than 8,000 high income jobs to locals and serving both regional and global markets. These numbers are expected to increase by 60% in the next three years.
For instance in 2014, Citigroup global credit financial hub in Penang recorded 32 million transactions with an annual value of USD7.2 trillion. Citigroup employs a headcount of 1300, nearly 100% local. If Penang can fulfil the requirements of Citigroup, we can satisfy the needs of top GBS or Business Process Outsourcing or Shared Services Outsourcing BPO/SSOs companies.
For instance, Melbourne-based Toll Global Forwarding, before its acquisition by Japan Post, established their operations in Penang at the end of 2013. In just over 2 years, they have nearly 200 employees conducting BPO activities serving their customers worldwide. This shows that Penang is capable of providing world-class service to international companies.
Penang towards Generating Higher Pool of Knowledge Workers
Developing the state’s talented young people to move up the value chain has always been a priority to the Penang State Government. In Penang, there are over 40 public and private universities and colleges, in addition to the eight reputable international schools.
Penang has also embarked on the German Dual Vocational Training (GDVT) program by paying the tuition fees of students. Costing the state government RM2 million, the GDVT program in Penang is a valuable up-skilling programme that allows students to be trained by receiving on-the-job training by the company.
The GDVT students will receive a monthly salary of RM1,000 and be trained concurrently to apply their knowledge as a worker. This combination of theory and practice gives the students a real head start in their career. As their tuition fees are financed by the state government- they are in fact paid to study.
Penang is also successful in attracting talents from overseas. The Penang Career Assistance and Talent (CAT) Centre is assisting international internship training programme, in collaboration with universities in Japan & New Zealand.
We are helping to build the capability of the state as it moves toward a knowledge economy by maximizing local content, adding value through integrated industrial parks, and promoting economic diversification and entrepreneurship.
To scale new heights and progress towards a high-income economy, we need to encourage innovation and creativity. Penang possesses the 3Ts of Talent (Talent), Technology (IT) and Tolerance (Tolerance) for a creative cluster. Through mentorship programmes we hope our innovators can become entrepreneurs thereby creating the technopreneur through our Penang Science Cafe (PSC), Penang Tech Dome (PTD), Penang Learning Center that offers STEM(Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) teaching.
We have also established @CAT to help tech start-ups through accelerators so that we can leverage on our core competencies in our electronic cluster to partake in the 4th Industrial Revolution of Big Data Analytics, cloud computing and Internet of Things ( IOT).
Livability & Work-Life Balance to Residents
Penang is the most liveable city in Malaysia and offers the best of both worlds, a competitive ground for business and an island famed for its tourist attractions. Knight Frank, the global property consulting firm, recently listed Penang as the best location for commercial property and investment with 67% surpassing Kuala Lumpur with 56% confidence from industry players.
Lonely Planet has ranked George Town, Penang as the 4th Top 10 Cities to visit in 2016 and is also on The Guardian’s list of Top 15 Best Street Art around the world. Culturally, the internationally acclaimed George Town Festival is in its seventh year running and is one of the most vibrant arts festival in Southeast Asia. I would like to invite all of you to take the opportunity to explore this world class festival from July 29 to August 28 this year.
Look no further, Penang is a place where you can do business, create great products, deliver great services, make money, and at the same time enjoy a desirable lifestyle.
When you do, you’ll find some of the world’s best talents and some of the world’s most innovative entrepreneurs. You’ll find a government, and a leadership team who is committed to help you create an international and intelligent city, where you and your family can prosper. We are proud to be the only government in Malaysian history to be commended by Transparency International.
Before ending, I would like to thank KPMG, investPenang, MDeC and the Australia Malaysia Business Council (AMBC), Victoria for making this seminar possible and once again, I thank all of you here for your presence and I wish you a fruitful seminar. Thank you.
LIM GUAN ENG
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槟州首席部长林冠英于2016年3月4日在澳洲墨尔本出席槟城商业研讨会发表演说摘要：
去年，是澳洲与马来西亚建交60周年纪念，两国的双边合作关系源远流长，大马更是澳洲在东盟排名第二、全球第九的贸易伙伴国。2014年，两国的贸易来往总值达175亿澳元，其中澳方出口占61亿澳元，进口则为113亿澳元。而2013-14年双向服务贸易达33亿澳元，澳方出口为18亿澳元，进口则是15亿澳元。
澳洲主要出口至大马的货物为铜、镍、煤及小麦，而大马出口至澳洲的包括原油、荧幕显示器、投影机与电视机、电脑及精炼石油。
至于澳洲大马双向投资方面，从2010年至2014年期间成长接近一倍。2014年，马方在澳洲投资额为210亿澳元，澳方在马投资则为96亿澳元。双边商贸来往蓬勃，澳洲大马商贸理事会扮演了居中协调的重要角色。
作为全马第二小的州属，槟城为大马的国民生产总值贡献了当中的7%，进出口方面则占了总额的25%。超过40年的工业经验，让槟城目前拥有逾300家跨国公司，诸如电子业界国际闻名的英特尔、国家仪器、德国博世、是德科技、安捷伦及超威半导体等等。凡此种种都成就了槟城成为一个有活力、积极且具竞争力的州属。
槟城已经成为各大跨国公司眼中投资的好地方，纷纷来此设立全球商贸服务中心。目前，约30家国际公司在槟城生根，而在这个领域工作的高薪职员有8000人，有关数字预计在3年后成长60%。
以花旗集团为例，2014年该集团在槟城设置的全球金融信贷中心录得320万笔交易，数额达7.2兆美元。该中心的1300名员工当中，几乎皆为本地人。如果槟城可以满足花旗集团的需求，我们相信也能够应付全球各地相关业者。
另一方面，州政府把德国技职教育系统的模式带来槟城，让学校建立在工厂之内，以培训学生成为有关工厂的未来员工。德国技职教育系统的成功确实令人称羡。德国公司不止提供专业的培训与教育机会予学生，同时也在学生毕业后高薪聘请他们。
槟城州政府出资200万令吉，推展德国双向技职训练计划。德国技职训练的特色在于学生可以一边在工厂工作一边学习，学费则由州政府负责，更好的是学生还获得参与该计划的厂商给予每月1000令吉的津贴。换句话说，参与该教育计划的学生是付薪读书。
槟城也成立就业培训及人才中心，积极协助国际学生来槟城实习，合作对象包括日本、纽西兰等大学。我们希望全方位拓展槟州成为知识经济体，并已“人才、科技、包容”为向前迈进的主轴。
而槟城亦是一个宜居的好城市，由《孤独星球》（Lonely Planet）所票选的2016年全球10大魅力城市中，乔治市成功挤入10大排名中的第4位。另，根据国际房地产顾问马来西亚莱坊（Knight Frank）进行的调查报告，槟城是2016年商业地产最佳投资选择地，超越吉隆坡。
以上种种，证明槟城不止是一个投资的好地方，也是生活、休闲、教育等机能丰富的地方，适合大家前来投资。