PENANG needs to be competitive in the digitalised era, says Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
“If we embrace technology and innovation, we have the potential to build a strong digital leadership. It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure that Penang is ready for the digital future and remains relevant and competitive,” Chow said in his speech at the Digital Transformation with Cisco for Manufacturing Industry at Setia SPICE Convention Centre today.
“The Penang government is committed to moving away from low-skilled dependency particularly for the manufacturing sector. There are several training courses available to prepare the next generation of tech-savvy workforce as we take the leap into smart factories.”
Chow also congratulated Cisco, which through its Cisco Networking Academy, has engaged and certified 73,900 Malaysians to meet the digital standards of the future.
The state government has partnered with companies like Cisco to form strategic initiatives to develop a robust digital ecosystem. Together they plan to move towards a knowledge-intensive and high value-based manufacturing in Penang.
Chow said one of the goals of Penang2030 that he launched last year was to upgrade the economy with emphasis on preparing local manufacturing industries for the digital age.
“Manufacturers in Penang have introduced Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies such as automation and digitalisation initiatives. This will drive innovation-led growth in key industries and enable Penang to be a fully smart state by 2030.
“Malaysian businesses that want to thrive in the IR 4.0 age need to consider training to improve their workers’ skills as an investment and not as an expense. The workforce needs to be trained to work alongside machines in roles that will be partially automated.
“Penang is aptly positioned to embark on this digital journey. The robust infrastructure and organisational enablers in Penang will play an essential role in accelerating Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies adoption.
“The time is now for manufacturers in Penang to seize the opportunities to become the lighthouses for digital manufacturing and leapfrog onto the global stage or risk being left behind.”
Also present at the event were Cisco Asean president Naveen Menon, Cisco Systems (M) Sdn Bhd managing director Albert Chai, SMB, Emerging Markets & Distribution Cisco Southeast Asia managing director Bidhan Roy and Cisco Malaysia senior manager of manufacturing operation C.L. Lee.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Alvie Cheng
Video by Ahmad Adil Muhamad