THE YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP CHALLENGE 2020 CLOSING CEREMONY

 

SPEECH BY THE CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG YAB TUAN CHOW KON YEOW

ON THE YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP CHALLENGE 2020 CLOSING CEREMONY,

WEMBLEY BALLROOM, ST GILES WEMBLEY HOTEL, PENANG

19 DECEMBER 2020

 

Penang State Exco For Youth and SportsYB Soon Lip Chee,

YB Dato' Haji Abdul Halim Bin Haji Hussain

Penang State Exco For Trade and Industry, Entrepreneurial Development

Elected Penang State Assemblypersons

Dato Finn Choong

Vice President of Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce

Dr Gwee Sai Ling

General Manager of Penang Youth Development Corporation

Mr Lee Toong Leon

Chairman of PCCC Young Entrepreneurs Section

Dato-Dato & Datin - Datin

PYDC Board Members

Panel Judges

Distinguished Guests

Participants

Media

Good afternoon everyone,

It gives me great pleasure to be here today and to join all the young entrepreneurs in this inaugural Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge 2020 organized by the Penang Youth Development Corporation (PYDC). Congratulations to all the participants for this meaningful occasion.

In addition to hosting the closing ceremony of the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge, I believe that this will also serve as a platform for all of us here to witness the showcase of key successes and dynamism of business ideas from our youth.

Ladies and gentlemen,

As we all know, 2020 is a very challenging year all over the world when everyone is greatly affected by the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the Penang State Government and Penangites in general have not been discouraged from continuing to take steps to weather the escalating challenges and the global economic slowdown.

Hence, I would like to take this opportunity to thank PYDC for your efforts such as in organizing the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge 2020 to empower our youth during this time and to realize the official collective vision of transforming Penang into an advanced and progressive society through youth development.

Therefore, I believe that today’s Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge 2020 would bring a new experience to our participants and serve as a stepping stone for the youth to kick-start their journey as young entrepreneurs. In accordance with the objectives of the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge 2020, participants will be more dynamic and innovative due to the smart use and vast improvement in technology.

In the wake of the pandemic crisis, the need for new, integrated and collaborative growth has brought entrepreneurship into a new dimension. In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, it is inevitable that entrepreneurs will face challenges and threats. Fortunately, with the aid and proper utilization of technology, they are able to move their business activities to the online platform.

The growth of young entrepreneurs in Penang will certainly contribute towards the creation of jobs, and thus boosting the economy of our state. By emphasizing and refocusing the attention on youth entrepreneurship, I am confident that Penang will be able to move ahead as a state with a vast talent pool of active entrepreneurs in Malaysia.

It remains my hope that the youth of Penang will continue to venture into the field of entrepreneurship which encourages the prosperity of experimentation and innovation, thus unlocking a world of possibilities.

The state government will also continue to provide all the necessary support to our local young talents to generate more quality young leaders that will meet the global market demands. We will not hesitate to work closely with our industry partners to promote innovation and the empowerment of our youth.

Ladies and gentlemen,

On a final note, once again, congratulations to the organizing team for the success of the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge 2020. I wish that PYDC would continue their commitment in carrying out the mandate of Youth For Future to develop our young people holistically, working with them to strengthen their personal, social, and career developments, and to enable them to discover their voice and place in society. And most important of all, to encourage as well as to enable our youth to reach their full potential in a Penang of the future which is family-focused, green and smart and one that truly inspires the nation.

Thank you.