Friendly and Supportive Government

Reputed as one of the most urbanised States in Malaysia, the Penang State Government uses its best endeavours to focus all its energies and efforts to make Penang the location of choice for business enterprises, destination of choice for tourists and visitors, and habitat of choice for those who desire sustainable living.

investPenang, the principal investment promotion agency for the State works in close collaboration with Federal Government agencies such as the Malaysian Industrial Development Authority (MIDA), Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade), Small and Medium Industries Development Corporation (SMIDEC), Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC), Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation and many other to facilitate investors in getting permits, licences as well as incentives.

At the State level, investPenang also collaborates with the State Government and Local Government to ensure ease of doing business for investors.

Ease of Doing Business

The KPMG’s “Exploring Global Frontiers” report in 2009 identified Penang as one of the 31 Business Processing Outsourcing (BPO) locations of the future. This is attributed to the availability of skilled labour, niche specialisations and government incentives.

Likewise, the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) in its Industrial Development Report 2009, rated Penang as one of the 10 dynamic industrial cluster locations in the world to have demonstrated a successful manufacturing experience among developing economies. These industrial cluster locations have created conducive investment environment, generated employment and able to compete in the international market.

Recognitions given by KPMG and UNIDO, together with the availability of investment and trade incentives such as pioneer status, tax holidays as well as bilateral agreements with Malaysia’s trading partners provide abundance benefits to the existing and potential investors.

The existing political stability and pro-active stance taken by both the Federal and State Governments ensure that investment ventures are safe, protected and respected.