THE OPENING CEREMONY OF DHL EXPRESS MALAYSIA’S PERAI SERVICE CENTRE
SPEECH BY YAB TUAN CHOW KON YEOW
THE CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG
THE OPENING CEREMONY OF DHL EXPRESS MALAYSIA’S
PERAI SERVICE CENTRE
TUESDAY, 17 MAY 2022
Yang Berusaha En. Roslan Hassan,
Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Penang Development Corporation
Yang Berusaha Mr. Muhammad Ghaddaffi
Director of Malaysian Investment Development Authority Penang
Yang Dihormati ACP Tan Cheng San
Acting Head of the Penang Crime Prevention and Community Safety Department, Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM)
Yang Dihormati Tuan Abdul Halim bin Ramli
Director of Royal Malaysian Customs Department Penang
Mr. Julian Neo
Managing Director of DHL Express Malaysia and Brunei
Distinguished guests,
Members of the media,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning.
Firstly, I would like to thank DHL Express for inviting me to witness and officiate the opening ceremony of their new Perai Service Centre.
The logistics industry is critical to the global supply chain and the economic growth of a country. As such, Penang wholeheartedly welcomes DHL Express' initiative to expand its operations here. The decision demonstrates the confidence of multinational corporations in the state as a sustainable investment destination and is aligned with the 12th Malaysian Plan, which aims to make the country a transport and logistics hub in Southeast Asia by 2025.
DHL Express' RM13 million investment in the facility will help to boost our country's infrastructure competitiveness. Indeed, it is a key factor in the World Bank's Logistics Performance Index, for which Malaysia received a 3.22 out of 5 rating in the most recent edition in 2018. It is hoped that this new service centre will improve the efficiency and productivity of our national logistics capabilities.
The pandemic outbreak has undoubtedly disrupted the global trade, and logistic companies such as DHL Express have been a driving force in keeping our supply chains running. The addition of DHL Prai Service Centre comes at an opportune time to capitalise on the thriving ecommerce industry, where businesses are increasingly participating in the online marketplace to ensure business continuity.
Besides that, it is heartening to know that DHL Express is committed to a future of clean logistics by outfitting the facility with a solar panel system and energy-efficient infrastructure. Sustainability has always been one of the State's top priorities, and we strive to make palpable inroads along the journey.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Penang has undergone 50 years of industrialisation journey and is positioned as an advanced manufacturing hub, buoyed by its significant contribution to the industry.
In 2021, the State recorded its all-time high of RM76.2 billion in total approved manufacturing investments, far outpacing Penang’s past performances. Foreign direct investments (FDI), in particular, contributed 98 percent of the total investment inflows, firmly positioning Penang as Malaysia's top FDI recipient, accounting for 41 percent of the country’s total FDI.
In terms of trade performance, Penang’s exports climbed 14% year-on-year in 2021, reaching its all-time high of RM354 billion and making it the nation's highest contributor in exports.
To uphold Penang’s competitive edge, the State Government constantly ensures the provision of world-class infrastructure and skilled talent. Holding on to that, the State will elevate its liveability stature and continue its multi-faceted initiatives in developing the industrial land and ramping the talent supply, with the aspiration of harnessing greater possibilities.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The five decades of manufacturing excellence have laid the groundworks for the State to unlock limitless potential. Leveraging on that as a springboard, the State, via InvestPenang, will stay committed to forging ahead with all stakeholders and seize all opportunities arise.
Congratulations to DHL Express on your new facility and we look forward to many more years of close partnership—in supporting local businesses, creating job opportunities, and entrenching Penang as a world-class hub for trade and innovation.
On this note, it is my pleasure to officially declare the opening of DHL Express Malaysia’s Prai Service Centre.
Thank you.