THE PENANG INTERNATIONAL FOOD FESTIVAL 2023’S FINALE PENANG FOOD FESTIVAL
SPEECH BY THE CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG
YAB CHOW KON YEOW
FOR THE PENANG INTERNATIONAL FOOD FESTIVAL 2023’S FINALE
PENANG FOOD FESTIVAL
25 June 2023
SETIA SPICE ROOFTOP, BAYAN BARU
Tuan Yang Terutama Tun Dato' Seri Utama Ahmad Fuzi bin Haji Abdul Razak
Yang di-Pertua Negeri Pulau Pinang
Yang Amat Berbahagia Toh Puan Dato’ Seri Utama Khadijah binti Mohd Nor
YB Yeoh Soon Hin
EXCO Pelancongan dan Ekonomi Kreatif
Yang Berhormat Ahli-ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri
YBhg. Konsul Jeneral, Konsul dan Konsul Kerhormat
Rakan-rakan Media
Tuan-tuan dan Puan-puan yang dihormati sekalian
Good evening to all of you.
Thank you for inviting me to the Penang International Food Festival 2023’s finale, the Penang Food Festival. I am excited to be back, and it is a pleasure to see many familiar faces again.
Penang is recognised as one of the most popular destinations in the world especially since our capital, George Town, was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008. The well-preserved historical architecture in the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site, coupled with the sheer diversity of our multi-racial cuisine, the 8 World Wonders of Penang (which are World’s First Tropical Butterfly & Insect Sanctuary: Entopia by Penang Butterfly Farm, ESCAPE Penang’s World Longest Water Slide & Zip Coaster, World’s Steepest Tunnel Track at Penang Hill, World’s Highest Altitude Stressed Ribbon Bridge at The Habitat Penang Hill, World’s First Free Standing Vertical Drop Slide at Tech Dome Penang, World’s Highest Ropes Course Challenge: The Gravityz and The World’s First Tower Curved Skywalk at The Top’s Rainbow Skywalk), the UNESCO-designated Penang Hill biosphere reserve, picturesque beaches, and breathtaking arts scene not only have attracted tourists but also put Penang on the radar of renowned international publications.
CNN Travel, for example, listed Penang as one of 17 Asia's best destinations to be considered for “the next adventure” back in 2019 and only last year in 2022, we gained the accolade for one of 22 best destinations to visit.
The services sector, which includes tourism, is one of the key pillars of our economy, contributing 47.4 percent of the state’ gross domestic product (GDP) in 2021, finally standing equal to the manufacturing sector.
Looking ahead, Penang will continue to build on the strength of our services sector, along with manufacturing and the digital economy, to achieve a GDP growth of 5.4 percent by 2025.
I am confident that we can meet this goal because Penang has made significant progress in our five-year plan since the launch of the Penang2030 Vision. I am proud to say, we have successfully implemented 47 percent of the out of the total 210 projects and programmes.
Tuan Yang Terutama Tun, Yang Amat Berbahagia Toh Puan, Ladies and Gentlemen,
As we strive to remain a destination of choice for local and international travellers, the Penang State Government will continue to ensure the comfort of our guests with new or improved infrastructure and attractions across Penang Island.
New hotels such as the Ascott Gurney, Citadines Connect Georgetown, Amari SPICE Penang, and The George Hotel are now open on Penang Island to provide quality accommodation to our growing number of travellers.
In line with the Penang2030 Vision, the State Government is also focusing on a balanced development on the island and Seberang Perai. Thus, development projects are gradually emerging in the Seberang Perai area.
The recently launched Citadines Prai Penang and Bertam Resort are now ready to accommodate more foreign and Malaysian visitors who are keen to explore the mainland.
Other exciting developments in the works to enhance our visitors' experiences in Penang include the Penang International Airport (PIA) expansion project which is expected to cater up to 20 million passengers annually, and also the construction of phase one of Penang's first light rail transit (LRT) project which is expected to begin at the end of this year.
Tuan Yang Terutama Tun, Yang Amat Berbahagia Toh Puan, Ladies and Gentlemen,
This evening, we are gathered here at the Setia SPICE in Bayan Lepas not only to celebrate the breadth of our culinary and cultural diversity at PIFF 2023, but also to shine a spotlight on Bayan Lepas. Since its inaugural edition in 2017, PIFF has played an important role in promoting Penang as a destination of choice for tourists who want to experience Penang through food.
Looking at the selection of food on offer, the visitors from all walks of life, I am very happy to say that Penang is on track to become a “Family-Focused, Green and Smart State that Inspires the Nation”, and I must commend everyone at PIFF 2023 for your tremendous contribution towards the Penang2030 Vision.
Most important of all, the Vision emphasizes family values and the family unit as the core of our everyday life and existence. Most, if not all, of us spend many hours away from our families, working to earn a living.
Festivals such as PIFF 2023 offer a common space for families to sit together and enjoy a hearty meal in the presence of other fellow Penangites as well as local or foreign tourists, which further fosters a sense of community well-being.
And because Penangites take so much pride in our culinary culture, I am very pleased to see so many of us here who show our love for Penang food, celebrating our shared heritage and appreciating the unique flavours and dishes that represent our vibrant multi-ethnic community, in line with the LovePenang state slogan.
To everyone, thank you for showing up this evening with your family and friends, standing united for the values we hold dear, for the vision of progress we share, and for the state we all love.
That’s all from me, thank you.