GEORGE TOWN – Penang has sought more support from the federal government to upgrade its airport and seaport after the state was ranked number one for exports last year by the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade).
State International Trade, Domestic Trade, Consumer Affairs and Entrepreneur Development exco Datuk Abdul Halim Hussain urged Putrajaya to hasten the upgrading of the international airport in Bayan Lepas.
He also wants the federal government to provide support for Penang Port Sdn Bhd to improve its facilities, enabling the state to boost its export efficiency rate.
The port has the potential to become a hub for the repackaging and re-exporting of goods in the region, he said.
Penang exports predominantly electrical and electronic goods, as well as services, to account for its position as the “Silicon Valley of the East”.
Halim said that the state wants to consolidate its position, but there should be more support from the federal government to upgrade the infrastructure in the state in order for it to do so.
Since the economy reopened in the fourth quarter of last year, Penang has witnessed congestion on its roads, while its airport and ports began to roar back to life too.
Halim said this at a press conference in conjunction with Matrade’s Export Day programme at AC Hotel by Marriott Penang here yesterday.
Matrade deputy chief operating officer (exporters development) Abu Bakar Yusof had said during the event that Penang is the leading state in Malaysia in terms of exports, accounting for 28.5% of the country’s total.
He also urged entrepreneurs to sign up with Matrade, which can help market and promote their goods and services overseas.
“The registration is free and Matrade can assist them with many packages and training,” he said.
As of now, only 8% of the export-listed companies in Penang are registered with Matrade.
Meanwhile, Halim also said that the spillover from growing exports can further boost growth.
He stressed that the state has a small population base and therefore needs to export overseas to a larger market.
We want Penang’s exporters to tap the global market. We want our small and medium enterprises to become global companies and to tap the regional and world markets.”
The Asean region alone has up to a 681.2 million population base, which makes up around 8% of the global population. In 2020, the Asean economic market share of 11 nations was around US$3 trillion (RM13.17 trillion). – The Vibes, June 3, 2022
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