16TH NEPCON WORKSHOP SERIES FORUM & DINNER
SPEECH BY CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG, YAB TUAN LIM GUAN ENG
AT THE 16TH NEPCON WORKSHOP SERIES FORUM & DINNER
5TH JUNE 2017 @ 6.30PM,EQUOTARIAL HOTEL, BUKIT JAMBUL PENANG
Good Evening
It gives me great pleasure to be here this evening for this Dinner and Forum that is organised in conjunction with the 16th Nepcon Workshop Series in Penang. Penang has always been and will continue being one of the key centres for exhibition of E&E (electronic and electrical) industry not only in this region but globally as well. This is so evident with the presence of captains of the industry from many multi-national corporations for today’s dinner and forum.
Penang has long been acknowledged as a major electronics hub in the region. I have been made to understand from Knowledge Group that the “Nepcon Workshop Series Malaysia” brings together about 300 participants from 120 companies, not only from Malaysia but from the neighbouring countries as well. Speakers from Singapore, USA and UK during the next 3 days will touch on topics that range from PCB Assembly, Soldering, IC Packaging, Process Optimization and Printed Circuit Board.
Worldwide sales of semiconductors from the first quarter of 2017 were US $92.6 billion, up 18.1 percent compared to the first quarter of 2016. As Penang provides 8% of the worldwide sales, this has made manufacturing generally a booming sector globally. With this significant progress in the E&E sector we need to create a valuable pipeline of talent to embrace new technologies that is rapidly changing, I believe these 3 days of Nepcon Workshop Series will be able to address some of the latest technologies in the E&E sector.
Penang with its vibrant E&E ecosystem of over 3,000 well diversified and competent local suppliers contributes more than 8% of back-end semiconductor output globally. Penang has emerged as a state that has world class capabilities, robust supply chain, competent workforce and the talents that helps to provide shorter development cycles, steeper learning curves, reduced cost and time to market.
The competing focus in the electronic industry is to choose between developing a world-class product or a platform that becomes the industry standard. Penang’s competitive advantage is that we have the ecosystem to help you develop both whether you choose to focus on the platform or the product, it will be world class. Or better even both just like Apple Iphone and their operating system.
Furthermore Penang is committed towards being part of Industry 4.0 transformation that requires our involvement in Big Data Analytics (BDA), e-commerce, crowdsourcing, Cloud Computing and Internet of Things (IoT). Towards this end we have taken several initiatives to establish Penang as a Centre of Excellence for science and technology, such as the RM 20 million Penang Science Café, RM 28 million Penang Tech Dome, RM23 million Penang @CAT, and the new RM 3 million Penang Digital Library – first 24-hour digital library. These facilities were launched to spur the interest of our younger generation and to provide an avenue for them to learn science and technology in an interactive and fun manner, which will then encourage them to explore into Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). In the long term, the state government’s aim is for the young generation to build their career and contribute in the high value industries in Penang.
In 2015, Penang launched the first ever state government supported- German Dual Vocational Training Program. This skill development program, based on the world renowned German vocational training module, will see apprentice hired by and working in factories (with guidance from experienced tutors) and studying in designated centres such as PSDC. The Penang State Government is allocating RM6 million to pay the tuition fees.
To conclude, I am very glad to be part of this event and I wish all of you a beneficial learning experince during this 3-Days of Nepcon Workshop Series and to my Muslim friends Selamat Berbuka Puasa.
Thank You.