PLEXUS APPRECIATION DINNER 2023 IN CONJUNCTION WITH PLEXUS PENANG’S 20TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
SPEECH BY THE CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG
YAB TUAN CHOW KON YEOW
PLEXUS APPRECIATION DINNER 2023
IN CONJUNCTION WITH PLEXUS PENANG’S
20TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
26 February 2023
SETIA SPICE Convention Centre
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Mr Victor Tan,
APAC Regional President, Plexus
Mr Ahmad Amri bin Hassim,
Deputy Director, Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Penang)
Madam Siobhan Das,
Chief Executive Officer, American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce
YBhg Dato’ Seri Wong Siew Hai,
President, Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association
Distinguished Guests
Members of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen
Good evening.
It is an honour and a pleasure for me to be here today at the Plexus Appreciation Dinner 2023, which is being held in conjunction with Plexus Penang’s 20th Anniversary celebration. Thank you for inviting and giving me the opportunity to celebrate Plexus’ outstanding contributions to the electronics manufacturing services industry.
I would first like to offer my warmest congratulations to the entire Plexus team on this momentous occasion. Achieving the 20-year milestone is a testament to your unwavering commitment to excellence. As a key player in the industry, Plexus has made impressive strides in providing design and development, supply chain solutions, new product introduction, manufacturing, and sustaining services.
I would like to thank Plexus for your contribution towards Penang’s industrial performance over the years. Penang’s industrial achievements, as recently seen for the period between January to September 2022, ensures our leading position as an economic powerhouse where we recorded a total of RM9.2 billion in approved manufacturing investments.
Plexus continues being part of Penang’s vibrant electrical and electronics (E&E) ecosystem, which in turn remains as a crucial pillar of the nation's external trade. In 2021, Penang topped the nation's list with an export value of RM354 billion recorded. The external trade momentum in Penang has persisted into 2022 with a 27% year-on-year spike on the export value, reaching an all-time high of RM452 billion, which represents 29% of the country's total.
Also known as the Silicon Valley of the East, Penang accounts for over 5% of global semiconductor sales and is a key regional hub for equipment and medical technology industries, an area in which Plexus excels as well through their healthcare and life sciences market sector.
Following the 50th anniversary of the state's industrialization journey last year, the State Government is certainly pleased to have Plexus on board, and we look forward to Plexus continuing to drive the economic development of the state of Penang through expansion, new technologies, and by providing job opportunities to workers from diverse backgrounds.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would also like to take this opportunity to commend Plexus on their efforts in driving Environmental, Social and Governance or ESG efforts especially in the areas of STEM education, charitable giving, and the environment. I understand that Plexus promotes STEM education through collaborations with STEM centres such as Penang Science Cluster and Penang Skills Development Centre, as well as engagements with educational institutions.
The company’s employees themselves are actively involved in such initiatives to mentor and guide young talents, share academic knowledge and best industry practices, and spark the interest of students in STEM-learning, all with the aim of producing top, well-rounded talents who can contribute their skills meaningfully.
On lowering energy consumption, I was told that their first renewable solar energy project was launched in July last year at their Penang – Islandview site, with the system going live on 17 July 2022 to reduce carbon footprint. This installation of the solar energy system is expected to save about 1,273 tons of carbon dioxide per year, and is part of their larger solar panel system footprint and implementation plan, which targets to operate at 9.9 Megawatt peak (MWp) for the Asia-Pacific region in 2023.
Such efforts and the good work done by the Plexus community will help to boost the country’s economy while bringing Penang to greater heights and realizing the Penang2030 vision of “A Family-Focused Green and Smart State That Inspires the Nation”. In realizing the objectives of this vision, the state intends for Penang2030 to be meaningful to everyone, to have an impact on their lives, and for positive changes to take place. Kudos to all of you for your contributions towards a more sustainable and resilient Penang.
On that note, I wish to record the Penang State Government’s sincere appreciation to Plexus for being a strong and supportive industry player over the years. Penang certainly looks forward to more decades of industrial excellence and together with it, Plexus’ continuing success.
Congratulations again and have an enjoyable evening ahead. Thank you.