SPEECH BY THE CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG YAB TUAN CHOW KON YEOW FOR THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY DINNER OF EKO METAL INDUSTRIES SDN BHD
SPEECH BY THE CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG YAB TUAN CHOW KON YEOW FOR THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY DINNER OF EKO METAL INDUSTRIES SDN BHD
11 Jan 2020
YB Puan Kasthuriraani Patto
Member of Parliament for Batu Kawan
Mr Boey Tze Nin
CEO of EKO Group Of Companies
Mr Thomas Emmette Stanley/Takeshi Sasaki San/Hideki Tomiyasu
Board of Directors of EKO Group Of Companies
Organizing Committee and the Valuable Employees of EKO Group Of Companies
Distinguished guests, Media Friends
Ladies and Gentlemen.
It is both my honour and a great pleasure of mine to be here to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of EKO Group of Companies. It is, I believe, definitely an even greater privilege for everyone in the EKO family rank and file to commemorate this meaningful milestone which in a mere 20 years since the founding of the company in a light industrial workshop, the EKO family now operates in 3 huge manufacturing plants covering 370,000 sq ft.
I was told that when EKO was founded in the year 2000, the management could hardly foresee your growth into an internal global player. You started from a humble operation, operating from a light industry workshop with a built-up area of approximately 9,200 sq feet and with only a workforce of 5 person. And today, EKO has a total workforce of 600 workers 3 manufacturing plants – two in Juru and one in Sungai Petani.
This speaks volumes of how determination, far-sightedness and vision as well as the combined efforts of everyone with vested interests (in this case, the economic well-being of the workers) towards a common purpose can see the fruition of an establishment into something bigger and with more clout in the industry. Twenty years it took for this journey in which now EKO can now consider itself as an established, mature and reputable manufacturer of the die casting and sheet metal segment in the manufacturing frontier. Well done!
The same applies for the economic well-being of the state and the people of Penang who are working and living here as part of their daily livelihood. I have said on many occasions that the future of Penang depends on the economic activities that can be generated on the mainland in Seberang Perai and Batu Kawan in particular. The direction where Penang is now heading is to be a Family-Focused Green and Smart State that Inspires the Nation as mentioned at all times to be the primary objective of the Penang2030 vision.
Like the remarkable growth experienced by the EKO family which the rank and file can and rightfully be proud of, Penangites too can be proud of what’s in store for the state in the coming years leading to the realisation of the vision outlined by the state government.
But make no mistake that this vision is a top down approach in how Penang shall become in the coming decade. Penang2030 is in many ways my invitation to everyone concerned with the wellbeing of Penang to work with each other and with the many arms of the state government, to make our state a place that is even more enviable that it already is.
Ladies & gentlemen,
Challenges are a part of everyday life. For EKO, facing challenges is a way to push yourselves to further strengthen your positioning in the global market. The same goes to the public service sector. In order to achieve sustainable economic growth, Malaysia or Penang, for that matter, must be bold enough move out of our comfort zone or areas of complacency towards facing challenges from the unknown.
Penangites must have the will to set our vision further than where we can now see, be bold enough to achieve the targets we set for ourselves in the coming years and to take the leap of faith that we can, with our combined will and effort of all stakeholders, remain competitive and a place of choice for people to come here to work, live and play.
Moving forward, I believe EKO should firmly believe that it has tremendous potential for a steady growth and has all the ingredients to succeed and build on a success that had already been achieved.