Penang to move up value chain

BUTTERWORTH: The next five years will see Penang enjoying greater progress and prosperity under a move to have more value-added industries and higher incomes for the people, said Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon.

He said efforts would be taken to move Penang up the value chain towards a knowledge-based economy.

Major infrastructure projects would be implemented and Penang’s role as the hub of the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) and in the Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand-Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) would be consolidated, he added.

Koh said that with the support of the people, the Barisan was sure that it would be able to implement these projects successfully.

“This will value-add to our economy and ensure a better quality of life for Penangites.

“It is an ongoing, continuous effort that requires continuity and innovation that will combine experience, expertise, with energy, especially youthful energy.

“I am very confident that if we can all work together, the objectives inscribed in the state Barisan manifesto will be achieved and it will bring Penang to yet another phase of higher level of progress and development,” he told newsmen after the launching of the state Barisan manifesto Monday at Sunway Hotel Seberang Jaya here.

The manifesto carries the same theme as the national manifesto - Security, Peace and Prosperity.