WHILE the electrical and electronics (E&E) sector is expected to enjoy impressive growth in the next two to three years, a deglobalisation movement may take place in this region moving forward.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said each country might look at protecting its own country first, before considering going global.
“We may encounter a reverse trend of globalisation moving forward.
“The world is at a crossroads today. Some industries faced turbulence in the past two to three years while others grabbed the opportunities.
“The E&E sector has been doing very well for the past two years and I believe, in the next two to three years, it will continue to have impressive growth.
“The ASEAN semiconductor market size is projected to grow from US$27 billion in 2021 to US$41 billion in 2028, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.1% during the 2021 to 2028 period,” Chow spoke at the industry dialogue after launching the Industriemeister-Mechatronics programme at Penang Skills Development Centre (PSDC) today.
Earlier, Chow was asked about his five-year forecast in the region.
“What do I see happening in the next five years in this region?
“I see an election coming in the next few months,” he said in jest, drawing laughter and cheer from the industry players.
On a more serious note, Chow said the ongoing United States-China trade war would continue to provide both challenges and opportunities.
“The manufacturing sector will continue to be our ‘backbone’.
“And with that, comes the challenges that the Penang government has been talking about for the past few years – land availability, infrastructure sustainability and talent.
“These issues remain a challenge for Penang.
“Talent is a very critical issue for the industry and country.
“While we talk about impressive investment figures in Penang, they put pressure on the three main issues mentioned earlier.
”The Penang government is working very hard to address these issues.
“We see a good synergy between the state, academia and the industry; all coming together, not to compete with each other, but to work together to move forward,” Chow added.
Chow and state Entrepreneurial Development, Trade and Industry Committee chairman Datuk Abdul Halim Hussain were present to launch the Industriemeister-Mechatronics programme at PSDC today.
The Industriemeister-Mechatronics programme is the first German Meister programme introduced outside of Germany.
It focuses on advanced technical and organisational aspects, combined with knowledge in management according to the German Industriemeister Framework Curriculum and Training Regulations.
The programme is jointly implemented by PSDC and the Malaysia-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MGCC), with the support of B Braun Medical Industries Sdn Bhd.
According to the media release, the Industriemeister-Mechatronics programme is open to German Dual Vocational Training (GDVT) graduates, and non-GDVT graduates (but they must be permanent employees of the participating host company).
The event also included an appreciation ceremony for the industrial companies that became GDVT host companies, scholarship sponsors, Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) initiative sponsor companies and industry donors.
Several companies also took part in the ‘industry pledge’ and their names are attached to a ‘pledge board’.
As stated in the media release, the ‘industry pledge’ was an initiative to address the shortage of workforce by actively seeking out school leavers to join the PSDC’s school leavers programme.
“PSDC members to show their fullest support by assuring students and parents that employment is guaranteed once they join PSDC,” the media statement read, adding that the pledge board would be placed at the PSDC lobby to show the members’ commitment to all visitors. It is said that members who signed up will have their company names attached on the pledge board.
Also present were Chow’s special investment advisor Datuk Seri Lee Kah Choon, Department of Skills Development deputy director-general Kamaruzaman Md Ali, Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) Penang director Muhammad Ghaddaffi Sardar Mohamed, MGCC chief executive officer Daniel Bernbeck, PSDC management council chairman Christoph Mueller and InvestPenang chief executive officer Datuk Loo Lee Lian.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Law Suun Ting
Video by Darwina Mohd Daud