THE Penang2030 website has been revamped for easy public access to information about projects that have been started or completed, says Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
Chow said the penang2030.com website, which was initiated by Penang Institute and developed by Digital Penang, now has extra features.
“For instance, its Rated Pg2030 page reports on projects happening throughout the state which contribute to the vision, while its Resources page directs viewers to reports, government policies and master plans related to the development of the state.
“Penang2030 has been conceived as an invitation to the people of the state and those concerned with the well-being of the state to participate in its broad development.
“That invitation is still repeated today and after the Covid-19 pandemic, the need for public engagement is stronger than ever, with the state preparing itself for a digitalisation push into the future,” he said before launching the ‘Phase 2: Accelerating Penang2030’ and its refurbished website at Penang Institute in Jalan Brown today.
Chow said Phase 2 of Penang2030 was a strategy that complements the state’s Covid-19 recovery plan and accelerates the Penang2030 vision.
It is based on three sets of initiatives, which together cover all vital aspects of the state’s economic growth and socioeconomic recovery.
These are the Placemaking Initiatives; the Community-building Initiatives; and the Industry Engagement Initiatives.
“The Placemaking Initiatives highlight specific areas in the state whereby specific developmental dynamics will be concentrated. For now, these include the Creative Digital District around China Street Ghaut and Beach Street, Middle Bank Marine Sanctuary and Gurney Wharf.
“The Community-building Initiatives bring agencies and elected representatives together to actively promote and coordinate volunteerism in the state and to engage with the population as a whole.
“The Industry Engagement Initiatives focus on tripartite efforts between the government, civil society and private sector to build on Penang’s manufacturing ecosystem, broaden the state’s investor base and prepare for the digital future,” he added.
Chow said the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic had provided a new rationale and new experiences for a reprioritising of its themes.
“Three years into the vision’s timeline, I am glad to launch the Penang2030 website (penang2030.com), within the major pillars of ‘Phase 2: Accelerating Penang2030’, which are presented to the public,” he said.
During a hybrid question-and-answer session with journalists, Chow also touched on the importance of Penang Science Cluster (PSC), which was set up to promote STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education.
“The Penang Future Foundation (PFF) scholarships also help to retain the science graduates in the state,” he said.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Muhamad Amir Irsyad Omar