Some of the participants at the inaugural Penang-India Future Forward Summit 2025.
PENANG and India can work together to develop a robust semiconductor ecosystem that supports design, fabrication and advanced packaging technologies, says Chow Kon Yeow.
The Penang Chief Minister said a talent pipeline could be built to sustain rapid growth of the sector through greater collaboration between industries, universities and government agencies.
“This can ensure the workforce is equipped with the necessary skills to meet the demands of tomorrow’s economy,” he said during the inaugural Penang-India Future Forward Summit 2025 in George Town.
Some 300 participants, including delegates from India, were at the summit that brought together visionaries, industry leaders and policymakers to foster collaboration and innovation.
Chow said both India and Penang had long been recognised for their strengths in engineering, technological innovation and manufacturing excellence.
“India, with its vast pool of engineering talent and world-class research institutions, has positioned itself as a formidable player in the global tech landscape.
“As for Penang, often hailed as the ‘Silicon Valley of the East’, it has played a critical role in the global semiconductor supply chain for over five decades now.
(From left) Sundarajoo, Chow, Jagdeep, Reddy and Limat the opening of the summit in George Town.— Photos: Buletin Mutiara
“With Malaysia’s National Semiconductor Strategy and India’s Semiconductor Mission, both nations have signalled their commitment to strengthening their positions in this high-tech sector.
“In Penang, we are complementing these efforts with our very own initiative, Penang Silicon Design @5km+, a strategic move to elevate our position within the semiconductor value chain,” he said, as quoted by state publisher Buletin Mutiara.
Chow also stressed the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics education, incorporating artificial intelligence in developing the talent needed to drive technological advancements.
He said Penag recorded over RM100bil in approved private investments in 2023 and 2024.
“Currently, Penang hosts only five Indian multinational corporations (MNCs), and we hope that this summit will spark greater interest from Indian investors to strengthen our industrial ecosystem further.
“India has much to leverage in its engagement with Malaysia and Penang, particularly as Malaysia holds the Asean chairmanship this year.
“This presents an opportune moment to deepen economic ties and explore collaborative ventures that benefit both regions.
“Together, Penang and India can chart a path towards a future defined by technological excellence, economic resilience and sustainable growth,” he said.
Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Jagdeep Singh Deo, whose office organised the event, reaffirmed Penang’s commitment to strengthening the semiconductor sector.
He encouraged participants to maximise the summit’s opportunities by seeking partnerships to support their business ventures.
“Even though Penang is a small dot on the world map, it contributes about 6.5% of the world’s semiconductor products.
“We are home to 450 MNCs and 6,500 small and medium enterprises (SMEs), with industries working together in a well-integrated ecosystem.
“So, to our Indian participants, you have potential partners here in Penang who can support your ventures,” Jagdeep added.
Indian High Commissioner to Malaysia BN Reddy congratulated the state government for hosting the summit and acknowledged Penang’s long-standing spiritual, cultural and historical connections with India.
“There is no better place in Malaysia to accelerate this cooperation than Penang – a state that leads in innovation, excels in the semiconductor and electrical and electronics industries, and where manufacturing accounts for over 47% of the state’s economy.
“As we look forward to this collaboration, it seems only natural given the historical and civilisational ties between India and Penang,” he noted.
With over one million Indian visitors to Malaysia last year, Reddy said the number was expected to increase following the successful visits to India by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim last year, Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo in January this year and Deputy Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Liew Chin Tong in recent weeks.
Also present at the Penang summit were state exco members Lim Siew Khim and Datuk Seri Sundarajoo Somu.
