PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE 12TH PENANG INTERNATIONAL HALAL EXPO & CONFERENCE (PIHEC)

SPEECH BY YAB TUAN CHOW KON YEOW

THE CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG

PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE 12TH PENANG INTERNATIONAL HALAL EXPO & CONFERENCE (PIHEC)

25th May 2023

YB Dato’ Abdul Halim Hussain

Penang State Exco for Trade, Industry and Entrepreneur Development

Mr. Fazil Irwan Som

Chief Executive Officer of Penang Halal International

Members Of Media

Ladies and Gentlemen

A very good afternoon to all.

We have gathered here today to make an official announcement regarding the highly anticipated 12th Penang International Halal Expo & Conference (PIHEC), scheduled to take place from the 23rd to the 25th of June 2023.

This year, the event will be hosted at the SPICE Convention Center and Arena, utilizing two venues to accommodate its grandeur. It fills me with immense pride to preside over this event, which stands as the largest Halal gathering in northern Malaysia, positioning Penang at the forefront.

As you are well aware, Penang has continuously sought out new areas of growth to fortify its competitive advantage. Having reigned as a leader in the E&E sector for many decades, the Halal industry is now one of the new growth frontiers that Penang is really focused on, recognizing its tremendous market potential.

PIHEC serves as an eminent platform for Penang to showcase our Halal sector while fostering collaboration and forging business deals with Halal ecosystems from around the world. Through these partnerships, we aim to establish Penang as the regional Halal hub for ASEAN.

Fortunately, we already possess a robust industrial base and excellent logistics connectivity, including airports, seaports, and our strategic location as the epicenter of maritime and mainland Southeast Asia. This advantageous foundation eliminates the need to reinvent the wheel, providing Penang with a head start in this endeavor.

Ladies and gentlemen,

While PIHEC 2023 shines a spotlight on Penang, it also serves as a platform for other states to showcase their promising Halal players. And as such, we are honored to be joined by participants from states such as Selangor, Kelantan, Perak, Negeri Sembilan, and many others, collectively highlighting the remarkable talent within our nation.

On that note, I am delighted to announce that PIHEC 2023 will also host a broader range of foreign delegations, surpassing the numbers from previous years. This year, in addition to our neighboring countries, we anticipate a substantial delegation from China, along with esteemed participants from the business community from as far as Spain, Chile and various other regions.

This presents an exceptional opportunity for Penang to explore new Halal markets, and we hold great confidence that this event will yield remarkable outcomes.

To date, we have received confirmation from 268 booth participants, representing approximately 70% of the total booth capacity. These participants, both local and overseas, will showcase a wide array of exclusive and high-quality products and services. From delectable food and beverages to halal ingredients, modest fashion, and much more, the exhibition promises to be a captivating experience.

In conjunction with the event, a multitude of programs will be held, including conferences, industry briefings by government agencies, product pitching sessions, seminars, and captivating performances by various artists. We anticipate an impressive attendance of approximately 20,000 visitors this year.

Thus, to those eager to expand their networks with potential business partners in the Halal sector, whether in F&B, Tourism, Tech, and various other industries, as well as those seeking to explore new markets, I implore you not to miss this remarkable event from the 23rd to the 25th of June 2023.

Thank you.

PIHEC

Pejabat Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang Tingkat 28, KOMTAR, 10502, George Town, Pulau Pinang