PENANG and Uzbekistan will be working towards better trade ties and exploring avenues to increase their tourism opportunities.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and Uzbekistan ambassador Ravshan Usmanov engaged in a lively 30-minute discussion when the latter paid a courtesy call on Chow at his office in Komtar today. Accompanying Usmanov were Mahmud Mahmudov (Trade and Economic Affairs) and second secretary Shiraz Abdullaev.
Usmanov was keen to know why Penang has become to be known as the ‘Silicon Valley of the East’ and why it has been tops in medical tourism in Malaysia.
Chow shared with him Penang’s story, beginning with the journey of industrialisation that took place some 50 years ago.
“The economy was very bad then and there was a high employment rate in our state, but through industrialisation, we were able to attract foreign investments to set up production facilities to create job opportunities for our citizens,” Chow said.
He said he hoped that Usmanov and his team would be able to explore new areas of cooperation when they meet members of the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers tomorrow.
Usmanov said Langkawi was the top Malaysian tourist attraction for Uzbeks, adding that his countrymen love the sea as Uzbekistan is one of the two double landlocked countries in the world.
He added that he would promote Penang to his people via merged packages while Chow welcomed Uzbeks to visit Penang as the state has good cuisine, beautiful seas and hills, heritage site, culture and friendly people.
At the end of the visit, Usmanov presented Chow a traditional Uzbek robe, called the chapan, while Chow reciprocated by giving him a pewter in the form of a miniature trishaw as a souvenir.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Alissala Thian