VITROX COLLEGE OPENING CEREMONY

SPEECH BY CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG, YAB TUAN CHOW KON YEOW

DURING VITROX COLLEGE OPENING CEREMONY

10 FEBRUARY 2023

VITROX CAMPUS 2.0, BATU KAWAN INDUSTRIAL PARK

YB Soon Lip Chee

Penang State EXCO for Youth and Sports

Dato’ Seri Dr Kelvin Kiew Kwong Sen

Chairman of ViTrox Corporation Berhad

 

Dato’ Seri Lee Kah Choon

Special Investment Advisor to the Chief Minister of Penang

YB Goh Choon Aik

ADUN Bukit Tambun

Dato’ Loo Lee Lian

CEO of InvestPenang

 

Dato' Ooi Peng Ee

CEO of Penang Science Cluster

Mr Chu Jenn Weng

CEO of ViTrox Corporation Berhad

 

Technologist Specialist Dr. Mohamad bin Yusoff

Timbalan Ketua Pengarah Jabatan Pembangunan Kemahiran (JPK)

Encik Muhammad Ghaddaffi bin Sardar Mohamed

Director of MIDA Penang

Industrial Captains

Members of the press

Ladies and gentlemen

Good morning, everyone.

I am pleased to be here today to officiate the grand opening of ViTrox College, a new industry-centric educational institution that strongly focuses on practical learning environments. This momentous occasion signifies a new milestone achieved by ViTrox, as part of their master plan to set up a full-fledged university in the next 10 years. My heartiest congratulations to ViTrox for your continuous efforts along the talent agenda and bringing ViTrox College to fruition.

Since its inception in 2000, ViTrox Corporation Berhad has been committed to bridging and reinforcing the link between the industry and academia. Buoyed by over two decades of industrial experience, ViTrox’s competency in providing the resources, up-to-date knowledge and skills is capable of setting up a work-based learning college that bridges the gap between education and industry systems.

Banking on that, ViTrox College is believed to play a vital role to attract talent, solidifying Penang’s position as the talent magnet in the northern region. This is also in line with the all-rounded talent pool agenda that the state constantly advocates.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Being the key pillar for Malaysia’s economy, Penang topped the nation’s list in 2021 with RM354 billion worth of export value recorded. The external trade momentum in Penang has persisted into 2022, with exports that rose 27% year-on-year, amounting to a record high of RM452 billion, representing 29% of the country’s total exports.

On the investment front, the State demonstrated its stellar performance by securing an all-time high of RM76 billion in 2021. From January to September 2022, Penang is also among the top contributors of the country, clocking in RM9.2 billion of total approved manufacturing investments.

In line with the rapid industry growth, a healthy talent pipeline is imperative to meet the heightened industrial demand. As such the state, via InvestPenang and other relevant state agencies, has implemented multi-pronged approaches to deepen and widen the talent pool in Penang.

Some of the ongoing initiatives includes, the Penang Internship Subsidy Programme (PISP) that offers wage subsidies to local companies for hiring interns, the Penang Future Foundation that provides scholarships for the qualifying students, the affordable housing for knowledge workers scheme as well as constant engagements with industry players and institutions of higher learning to promote Penang as a choice location for career development.

Ladies & gentlemen,

Penang’s strong talent pool is definitely one of the key competitive edges that we value and will continue to uphold. The State Government strives to ensure a balanced development in the state by continuously bolstering Penang’s welcoming and conducive environment for attracting and retaining the right talent.

Multifaceted initiatives are needed in ensuring a sustainable talent pipeline. On this note, I am pleased to share that ViTrox Academy has formed partnerships with Penang Science Cluster to establish the first makerspace in Seberang Perai. This serves as a good platform to inspire more young students to be involved in STEM and cultivate a creative and innovative community in Penang.

Additionally, ViTrox Academy also offers National Dual Training System (SLDN) programme, a work-and-study scheme under Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) that provides both hands-on industrial learning and theoretical learning.

Penang is most proud that our conducive environment not only allows industry players to participate and thrive but, at the same time, seeing true commitments made by industry players for the state’s well-being. I am hopeful for ViTrox College’s capabilities in nurturing local talents and developing an innovative community.

Riding on the state’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) agenda, I would like to take this opportunity to call on support from the industry to provide quality education opportunities for underprivileged students. This enables equal access to all, which is essential to help them in reaching their full potential. We look forward to an increased participation from the industry players along the talent agenda in Penang.

I hereby with great pleasure, officiate the opening of ViTrox College.

My best wishes to all, thank you.