THE Austrian counterparts are looking at areas to collaborate with Penang.
During a courtesy visit today, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Austria to Malaysia Andreas Launer told Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow that Penang is a very beautiful state.
“This is my first visit to Penang, and I am happy to be here. I can only compliment you. Everybody knows how dynamic is the economy of Penang, and how interesting is the culture.
“Thank you for hosting our Austrian community in Penang. It is a sizable community, and many are also commuting from other states,” he said.
Also present were Austria’s honorary consul in Penang Berthold Jungwirth and Austria’s commercial counsellor Reinhart Zimmermann.
Launer said when he first arrived in Malaysia in August last year, many of his friends had urged him to visit Penang because the state is unique and beautiful.
He also praised Jungwirth for doing a wonderful job as Austria’s honorary consul in Penang.
“Penang and Austria have a long history of relations. The relations can be traced back to 1866 when the then Emperor of Austria approved the opening of the Austrian honorary consulate in Penang,” Launer said.
“Travelling is possible again and we are delighted to have you in Austria. We can look at interesting cooperation in green technology, circular economy, and urban development,” Launer extended his invitation to Chow.
He looked forward to meeting a few Austrian companies, the Austrian community, Penang Institute, and the Penang Green Council during his visit to Penang.
Several issues including investments and politics were also discussed during the courtesy visit.
Chow thanked Launer and his team for visiting Penang and paying him a courtesy call.
On manufacturing investments, Chow said that last year was a good year for Penang and Malaysia.
Penang managed to achieve its record-breaking total approved manufacturing investments of RM76.2 billion in 2021. The state’s investment inflows in 2021 involved 111 projects.
Penang’s RM76.2 billion approved manufacturing investments last year accounted for 39% of the country’s total, topping the nation’s contributing list.
In particular, foreign direct investments (FDI) contributed 98% of Penang’s approved manufacturing investments, or RM74.4 billion (year-on-year: +606%), making Penang the highest manufacturing FDI recipient in Malaysia and capturing 41% of the country’s said total FDI during the period.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Muhamad Amir Irsyad Omar