CHOW Kon Yeow is the first Penang Chief Minister to formally visit the Middle East nations of Egypt and Turkiye from today until November 8.
Chow will undertake a working visit to the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Republic of Turkiye where he will be accompanied by state executive councillor for Infrastructure, Transport and Digital, Zairil Khir Johari and delegates from Chief Minister Incorporated (CMI) and the urbanised specialist - Think City Sdn Bhd.
The Batu Kawan MP and Padang Kota assemblyman will participate in the 12th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF) held in Cairo, Egypt.
He is set to deliver a keynote address at the 2nd High-Level Meeting on Financing Sustainable Urban Development at WUF.
This high-level meeting will set the basis for frameworks for the establishment of UN Habitat’s Feasibility Fund for receipt funds, Knowledge Hub on Financing, and the Cities Investment Facility (CIF) Feasibility Fund Framework.
Chow will also be sharing Penang’s experience in financing public projects to an international diaspora of government, business, and community leaders.
Additionally, he is also expected to meet with several key figures within UN Habitat, the state’s partner on several initiatives within Penang including the Climate Adaptation programme and the proposed redevelopment of Penang Bay.
Established by the United Nations in 2001, WUF is an incremental platform for discussing rapid urbanisation and its impacts on communities, cities, economies, climate change and policies.
Chow will also be conducting a visit to Istanbul, Turkiye to explore cultural heritage management, discuss public transport and waterways management, and explore potential collaborations in the circular economy.
George Town is the recipient of the Unesco World Heritage Site status.
This is believed to be his second formal overseas engagement after he had led the state agency - Invest Penang earlier this year on an investment mission to the United States.
Penang is now undergoing a rapid transformation with two mega infrastructure projects happening on the island side at the same time - the Silicon Island - a mega reclamation initiative under the SRS Consortium Sdn Bhd off Batu Maung.
There is also the Air Itam - Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway dual highway project, which snakes along the narrow and hilly enclaves of Paya Terubong, Island Glades and Glugor towards the main expressway on the island.
Such projects are expected to drive economic growth in the most prosperous state in the northern region besides the sectors of manufacturing and services with tourism expected to record impressive arrival numbers this year. - November 1, 2024.
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