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Call to put Penang on the map PDF Print E-mail

David Tan, The Star

July 10, 2010

property fair

Focusing on state's niche areas: The participants of The Star Property Fair 2010 Round-Table Dialogue having a discussion.

SEVERAL major developers have called for greater efforts to promote the Penang brand overseas, especially to prospective investors in China.

This was among several key points raised by them during the Star Property Fair 2010 Round-Table Dialogue held at the Star Northern Hub in Bayan Lepas, Penang, yesterday.

According to Henry Butcher Malaysia (Penang) director Dr Teoh Poh Huat, many wealthy businessmen in Shanghai and Beijing were still unaware of what the state had to offer.

He lamented that investors in such first-tier cities in China did not know about Penang’s competitive edge as a property investment destination due to lack of a proper branding strategy for its niche products and services.

 

“Our competitive edge is in heritage and medical tourism, education, business and the state’s liveability.

“We must identify the niche products of Penang that need branding,” he said, adding the observation was based on his experience during his property road shows in China.

Dr Teoh called for an effective way to communicate to all government agencies and the private sector to promote Penang’s niche areas.

Such a move to brand Penang must be a private and public initiative, he added.

The dialogue, moderated by The Star’s regional editor (north) Choi Tuck Wo, is a prelude to the Star Property Fair 2010 that will be held from July 23 to July 25 at G Hotel and Gurney Plaza.

Among the participants at the dialogue were investPenang executive committee chairman Datuk Lee Kah Choon, Real Estate Housing Deve-lopers Association (REHDA, Penang) chairman Datuk Jerry Chan, IJM Land Bhd managing director Datuk Soam Heng Choon, Belleview Group managing director Datuk Sonny Ho, Ivory Group chief operating officer Datuk Ooi Chin Loo, Iskandar & Associates chairman Dr Iskandar Ismail, Nusmetro Venture director Thomas Chan, SP Setia (north) general manager S. Rajoo and KPMG partner Ooi Kok Seng.

Soam noted that many exhibitors in northern China, for instance, did not know about Penang unlike those in the southern parts of the country due to the latter’s closer links with the state.

“Where is Penang?” he said, referring to the frequently-asked question during his recent property exhibition in China.

Chan drew attention to the need for a directory to list comprehensively the hospitality services, products, facilities, and manufacturing services available in Penang.

“Such a directory should be made available online under the Penang Government’s website,” he said, adding that current efforts to promote Penang such as road shows had not been effective.

He said the directory would spell out clearly what Penang was known for.

Dr Iskandar said Penang should emulate Dubai’s example in promoting three of its niche products to the world.

“Everyone knows Dubai is known for its financial, logistic and tourism services, because it concentrated on promoting the three activities.

“Penang should follow its footsteps and focus on making known its unique selling points which are logistic, manufacturing and tourism services,” he said.

Dr Iskandar said that on a long-term basis, Penang was in a good shape, as there was an increasing demand from a growing population for its housing products.

“There is, however, a need to increase the attraction of Penang with the setting up of green lung projects such as parks to attract investors,” he added.