THE inaugural Penang Economic Summit (PES) 2022, a spin-off of the Asia Economic Forum, will be held at the Setia SPICE Convention Centre on Oct 20 and 21.
The economic summit will be jointly organised by the Enterprise Asia and state think tank Penang Institute.
Enterprise Asia is a leading non-governmental organisation in pursuit of creating an Asia that is rich in entrepreneurship and promoting fair and equal opportunities for entrepreneurs.
Its two pillars of existence are an investment in people and responsible entrepreneurship.
Enterprise Asia vice-chairman and organising chairman of PES 2022 Datuk William Ng said some 300 local and international business leaders, entrepreneurs and policy-makers from more than 20 countries regionally are expected to attend the economic summit.
He said with the theme ‘The Post-Pandemic Economic Reset’, the summit will be a platform to shine a light on critical issues surrounding economic growth in Asia, cross-border connections and key investment opportunities.
“The PES 2022 will also address critical challenges to economic growth in Asia. As the Russia-Ukraine conflict escalates, along with political conflicts, trade tensions and strained supply chains are threatening to halt the region’s economic recovery post-pandemic.
“The Summit’s speakers and panellists will discuss opportunities and new growth drivers for businesses in Asia, while exploring options for continued growth for Penang into the 2030s and beyond.
“Speakers at the summit include the Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who will deliver the opening address as well, state Transport and Infrastructure Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari and state Entrepreneurial Development, Trade and Industry Committee chairman Datuk Abdul Halim Hussain.
“Other speakers include Chief Minister of Penang special investment adviser Datuk Seri Lee Kah Choon, InvestPenang chief executive officer Datuk Loo Lee Lian, Digital Penang chief executive officer Tony Yeoh and many others.
“The PES 2022 is now open for registrations and is available for Malaysian and overseas delegates to attend. To register for the summit, please visit bit.ly/aaefpes2022 ,” Ng told a press conference in Komtar today.
Also present were Chow, Penang Institute executive director Datuk Dr Ooi Kee Beng and InvestPenang chief executive officer Datuk Loo Lee Lian.
Dr Ooi calls for global collaborations and building trust among the nations through PES 2022.
“We cannot recover alone, we have to recover together, within national borders and beyond national borders, and we cannot recover if we do not take full advantage of the latest technologies to provide us with sustainability and efficiency.
“These are the thoughts behind how the panels are named, and who the speakers at the conference will be.
“In the case of Penang, we need to be very proactive and knowledgeable to take advantage of new opportunities and overcome our weaknesses.
“That is why this conference is titled ‘The Post-Pandemic Economic Reset’. The word ‘reset’ might sound frightening and destabilising. But resetting can simply be about seeking synergy, re-prioritising and working together.
“Resetting economically requires us to know what the rest of the world is doing, to know our strengths and weaknesses, and to come together,” he said.
Chow said the state government is looking forward to welcoming all the local and international delegates during the two-day economic summit in Penang.
“Personally, I am keen on exchanging thoughts with the esteemed speakers and panellists, and to see what we can do to move Penang forward to the next level.
“The theme of the summit is very much in line with the Penang2030 vision of ‘A Family-Focused Green and Smart State that Inspires the Nation’.
“This is mainly because the Penang government is now making significant efforts to reboot the state’s economy and to revive our various sectors.
“Thus, I am confident that PES 2022 will serve as an important catalyst to this vision.
“Beyond the intellectual discourse on the way forward for Penang and Penangites, it is also an opportunity to showcase the best of Penang – our cultural heritage, our dynamism as one of the most developed states in the nation, our talented and skilled workforce and the spirit of innovation that underlined Penang’s growth over the past decades.
“And as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Penang’s industrialisation this year, we are determined to work closely with the industry and the civil society to propel Penang into a high-income economy, underscored by innovation, digitalisation and high quality of life for Penangites and visitors alike,” he said.
Story by Riadz Akmal
Pix by Alissala Thian
Video by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi