GRAND OPENING OF NEW “WASTE-TO-ECO-FRIENDLY” PRODUCTS MANUFACTURING PLANT OF HENG HUAT GROUP

SPEECH BY YAB CHOW KON YEOW, CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG FOR THE GRAND OPENING OF NEW “WASTE-TO-ECO-FRIENDLY” PRODUCTS MANUFACTURING PLANT OF HENG HUAT GROUP

14 SEPTEMBER 2019

 

 

 

A very good morning to all of you.

To begin with, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the Heng Huat Group for inviting me here today. It is indeed my pleasure to grace the grand opening of the new “waste-to-eco-friendly” products manufacturing plant of Heng Huat Group.

I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate and commend Heng Huat Group for attaining the title of ‘The Market Leader’ in the Malaysian coconut fibre field following their successful acquisition of a 97% equity interest in Sabut Kelapa Terengganu Sdn Bhd (SKT) ,which, is also a move that had strengthen Heng Huat Group position as a regional player in the biomass industry.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Heng Huat Group strategic planning, good governance, and desire to grow has certainly become exemplary for our local entrepreneurs to follow. This is something significant to the Penang State Government as we comprehend the importance and need to refine and motivate our local entrepreneurs to the greatest possible extent. This is because entrepreneurs can change the way we live and work, and as such they are often thought as an asset to the state. If successful, their revolutions may improve our standard of living. In short, in addition to creating wealth from their entrepreneurial ventures, they also create jobs and the conditions for a flourishing society.

In line with the Penang2030 vision, the Penang State Government aims to foster an ecosystem that nurtures creative industries and niche business services. Accordingly, the Penang State Government will continue carrying out the state initiatives such as the Penang S.M.A.R.T Centre to assist our local entrepreneurs, while at the same time, I hope that our existing local companies will continue to give their best to strengthen and strive for excellence in their respective fields.

Ladies and gentlemen,

I would like to reiterate that the Penang State Government has consistently emphasized on the word ‘GREEN’ of the Penang2030 vision. It signifies the government’s awareness that there is really no alternative to balanced development. The economy needs to develop to face new challenges brought by Industry 4.0 and other conditions, but the managing of these changes must protect and improve the natural and cultural assets we already have. A well-kept balance between economic growth and ecological protection can help make Penang the model state that we all want it to remain.

As such, the Penang State Government applaud the initiative and efforts of Heng Huat Group in their operation to re-use waste by turning coconut husks that were considered as wastes and openly burnt to an eco-friendly product. I truly wish that our local entrepreneurs will emulate Heng Huat Group to not only invest in thriving their business but also to invest in the preservation of our environment and to engineer ways to transform environmental issues to business opportunities. As a matter of fact, as Heng Huat Group had progressed to Terengganu, I also wish that they will represent the Penang state to inspire others, in particular the east coast of Malaysia, to support the green environment, in line with the Penang2030 vision.

In conclusion, following the success of Heng Huat Group, I surely hope that it will motivate and inspire others to propel themselves in the entrepreneurial and business sector without neglecting the importance of conserving our green environment. Once again, congratulations to Heng Huat Group for your achievements and my best wishes for many more success to come.

Thank you.