AFTER being named to take charge of the state Trade and Industry and Entrepreneurial Development portfolio, Datuk Abdul Halim Hussain is unfazed by the daunting tasks ahead of him in view of the current Covid-19 pandemic.
The pandemic has severely disrupted businesses and torpedoed global economy.
The soft-spoken and well-articulated executive council member shared his thoughts, planning and vision in a recent interview with Buletin Mutiara, stressing that he would deliver his best and bring the state to greater heights.
In the exco reshuffle, Abdul Halim and Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman swapped part of their portfolios. Abdul Halim surrendered his Cooperatives portfolio to Zakiyuddin while Zakiyuddin gave up his Industrial Development portfolio to Abdul Halim.
During the interview, Abdul Halim pointed out that the state needs to have its own research and development (R&D) centre in a bid to become a developing place.
Because of the challenges faced by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), he said many of them could not afford to develop the centre that might cost RM15 million.
Hence, Abdul Halim said he would propose to the state government to build one.
“Penang is in need of an R&D centre to help the SMEs.
“R&D centres are mostly owned by the large companies. We have the talent in this area and therefore, we need to develop such potential,” he said.
Abdul Halim said he would like to see local companies in the state not only do well in the country but also excel globally.
“The companies such as Inari Technology Sdn Bhd, Vitrox Corporation Berhad and Globetronics Industries Sdn Bhd have penetrated the global market and I hope more local corporations will follow in their steps as well,” he added.
On the industrial outlook, Abdul Halim said the United States – China trade war tension would be an advantage for the state.
He said that many investors were keen to invest in the state due to the escalated tension between the two economic powerhouses.
“It will be a boost for the state’s economy,” he added.
At the same time, Halim viewed the medical industry, aerospace, Internet of Things (IoT), defence and train services to have a potential to venture apart from the electrical and electronic (E&E) industry.
He also emphasised the importance of online business and digitalisation in this contemporary era.
“In fact, the state had allocated a sum of RM500,000 to develop local products through this platform.
“The state had established a partnership with the country’s number one e-commerce platform Shopee in June,” he said.
According to Abdul Halim, the ‘Penang e-Mall’ kiosk has a total of 5,466 local registered traders as of Sept 15 this year, adding that the state would continue its collaboration with Lazada and Pg Mall.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Ahmad Adil Muhamad