THE NETWORKING SESSION AND LAUNCHING OF THE REBRANDING & MILESTONE OF PHI

SPEECH BY YANG AMAT BERHORMAT

TUAN CHOW KON YEOW

CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG

AT THE NETWORKING SESSION AND LAUNCHING OF THE REBRANDING & MILESTONE OF PHI

FRIDAY, 11TH SEPTEMBER 2020

JEN HOTEL, PENANG

____________________________________________

YB. DATO’ HAJI ABDUL HALIM HUSSAIN

State Minister for International & Domestic Trade, Consumer Affairs & Entrepreneurship Development

Chairman of Penang Halal International Sdn Bhd (PHI)

PUAN AIDA LIM ABDULLAH

Chief Executive Officer

Penang Halal International Sdn Bhd (PHI)

Board Members of PHI

Head of Department

Members of the Media                                            

Distinguished Guests

Ladies & Gentlemen

A very good evening ladies & gentleman! First and foremost, thank you for inviting me here today to officiate the Rebranding & Milestone of PHI.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Penang Halal International Sdn Bhd for the appointment of Ms Aida Lim Abdullah as your Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

PHI, formerly known as PIHH Development Sdn Bhd, has been established in 2008 to facilitate and promote the halal industry in Penang. It provides a platform for numerous initiatives aiming at supporting the local and international Halal industry through regional and international partnerships with stakeholders.

The Covid-19 pandemic is throttling the global economy, impacting lives and the country’s economic structure. This includes major changes in the entrepreneurship development. Small business sector is one of the most directly affected sectors impacted by the pandemic. The impact is more significant among micro-enterprises.

Therefore, the state has taken several measures to assist the entrepreneurs. Together with PHI, we collaborate with Food Panda and Shopee Malaysia to guide entreprenuers and micro-entreprises to market their products.

The Halal Intensive Training Course, which is Certified by PHI and endorsed by the Penang Religious Affairs Department, is part of the new education series. The course guides participants and prepares them for the future.

Being the Sillicon Valley of the East, Penang has constantly been ranked among the top investment destinations in the country over the last five decades. It has achieved a record high total approved manufacturing investment of RM16.9 billion in 2019.

As stated by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), the GDP of Penang in 2019 was RM94.7 billion; contributed by the five sectors which are services, manufacturing, construction, agriculture and mining.

By having the North Penang Science Park, we hope that the Halal industry can contribute further to the state's GDP in the future. The Food Zone in the North Science Park comprises 22 companies in the food manufacturing business and other food-related industry (logistics) with a total investment of more than RM247.96 million,and made up of 43.95 acres industrial land.

Penang Halal Park Phase One houses eight food manufacturing and pharmaceutical products companies which took up 46.38 acres with RM384.20 million worth of investments.

I would like to thank the PHI team for your amazing effort and dedication in guiding and developing entreprenuers by organising talks and courses. Your effort can increase the understanding and at the same time, enhance the entrepreneurial skills of those in the Halal industry.

It is my fervent hope that with these initiatives, each and every one of us will gear-up momentum to revive the entrepreneurial spirit and drive the economy of our state and country. The Penang government hopes that the small businesses can embrace the digital platform and adopt new marketing strategies.

PHI is also engaging international Halal players and start-up companies, inviting them to come to Penang. We want them to make Penang as their preferred destination for Halal investment and halal marketplace.

Lastly, I invite all stakeholders in Penang to be part of PHI’s inaugural event, entitled ‘International Inspirasi Khadijah’. It is scheduled to be held from 18th to 20th November 2020. Let’s give PHI the support it needed to make this event a success!

Once again, I express my heartiest congratulations to the PHI team led by YB Dato’ Abdul Halim Hussain and Ms Aida Lim Abdullah.

The various entrepreneurial activities and programmes will propel the Halal industry and the economy of Penang to greater heights.

Thank you.