CHIEF Minister Chow Kon Yeow who attended Penang Premium Business Enterprise Group’s power talk series ‘Insights of a Successful Entrepreneur’ stated that the service sector in Penang has grown tremendously.
Answering questions concerning the service sector, the Chief Minister shared some statistical figures with the attendees present.
According to Chow, the service sector contributes 49% of the state GDP and contributes 59% in terms of job opportunities.
“Tourism is one of the service sector which is deemed important as it provides opportunities in terms of services such as hotels, tour services, transportation, tourist attractions, businesses and so on.
“The state is also concentrating on the meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) industry in Penang which has a big market.
“We are also leading in cruise tourism, in terms of international transit at Swettenham Pier.
“Apart from that, Penang has contributed close to 50% towards medical tourism to Malaysia ,” said Chow.
Furthermore, Chow shared that Penang is exploring the Global Business Services.
“Another area which we have diversified because of the world market situation is the Global Business Services with regards to the knowledge-based industry,” added Chow.
Earlier on, the guest speaker of the talk Datuk Seri Cheah Cheng Hye, while sharing his success story, said that one must never stop learning in order to attain success.
“It is important to keep learning and equipping ourselves with soft skills such as communication, leadership and inner motivation.
Cheah, who hails from Penang, left the country in his early 20’s, and started his career in Hong Kong as a financial journalist and eventually becoming one of the most successful fund manager in Asia and earned himself the moniker “Warren Buffet of the East”.
“The victory of Pakatan Harapan has impacted the market for Malaysia in a positive manner,” noted Cheah.
Story by Tanushalini Moroter
Pix by Norshahida Yusoff