LAUNCHING CEREMONY OF THE 6TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL MOBILITY CONFERENCE BY THE INTERNATIONAL MOBILITY CONVENTION

SPEECH BY CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG

AT THE LAUNCHING CEREMONY OF THE

6TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL MOBILITY CONFERENCE BY THE INTERNATIONAL MOBILITY CONVENTION

1 March 2017

Selamat datang ke Pulau Pinang.

A very warm welcome to Penang, the Pearl of the Orient. And a sincere Thank You to the International Mobility Convention (IMC) for choosing our wonderful Island as host to your 6th Annual Conference.

I believe that one of the main reasons why IMC chose Penang was because we share the same values of excellence, diversity, opportunity and freedom. In Penang we have not only freedom of speech but also freedom after speech. UNESCO recognises our diversity and multi-cultural harmony by awarding George Town as a World Heritage site. And we are listed as one of the top 17 best places in the world to visit by CNN, coming out number 2. No wonder Yahoo Travel listed Penang as one of the Top 8 islands in the world you must explore before you die. Since you are all here, we can all die happy!

Penang is the ideal place to welcome Mobility professionals from around the world as this island has always been – and no doubt – will continue to be a crossroads for cultural and economic exchange.

For centuries Penang has been at the forefront of what we now call Globalisation.

I believe there is nowhere better to have a conference that welcomes 170-plus members of the international mobility community than Penang. Penang is an industrialised city with 95% of our GDP based on manufacturing and services sector. Penang also has internationally-rated facilities and infrastructure to serve your needs. We are also the most liveable city in Malaysia.

You have come from all corners of the globe, from very diverse backgrounds and cultures to meet in Penang and continue the global exchange of business, ideas and culture that has been the lifeblood of Penang for hundreds of years. Do not forget to enjoy the Penang street food – the best in the world. So remember to put in 1kg in weight or else you have not been to Penang!

Thank you.