With major meeting, incentive, convention and exhibition (MICE) events heading towards Penang, the state government does not want to miss out on hosting these international events.
Therefore, a second convention centre is much welcomed. The first phase is of this project is expected to be completed in Q1 of 2025.
In line with this, Penang Chief Minister YAB Chow Kon Yeow made a visit to the up-coming Light City mixed development project to assess the progress being made at the massive project.
On hand to greet him was Dato Toh Chin Leong, Director of IJM perennial, Tan Hun Beng, GM of IJM Perennial, Tan Ling Jin, COO of IJM Construction, Datuk Wong Tuck Wai, CEO of IJM Land along with their team team of engineers and personnel.
The development of the 32.7 acre will consist of mixed development of residential and commercial buildings. Other than the massive convention centre, there will also be a mall, offices blocks and hotels.
The residential units named “Mezzo” is a 34-storey building offering some 456 units while another block called “Essence” is 37-storey offering 350 units.
Meanwhile, the commercial tower will offer a hotel and office block.
“The convention centre will be the “jewel in the crown” with a retail mall and the convention centre to be called “Penang Waterfront Convention Centre (PWCC).
“The International standard halls can be divided into halls for trade fair and exhibitions with a capacity of 5,000 seating at any one time,” said Tan adding that they also look forward for the LRT and water taxi facilities to complement the development.
Tan also shared that the venue can also be utilized for major events like New Year Chinese New Year countdown events.
With a 20 percent completion rate currently, the project offers a gross development value of 4.5 billion.
“My main purpose of this visit is to know the progress of the waterfront convention centre as the Penang SPICE Convention centre is not sufficient for larger events. As such, a second convention centre is much welcomed.
“Generally, business visitors will spend more than leisure visitors and we believe this centre will be another facility to attract visitors
“Although not everyday we get big events, we still have other alternative locations for big events that can capture bigger market share of international events. Without the second convention centre we do not know what we are losing out,” said Chow.
In the meantime,Penang Hyperlocal reached out to the chief executive officer of Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB), Ashwin Gunasekeran on his take on the up-coming PWCC at Light City.
“We are indeed glad to know of the latest progress of the PWCC project following the visit of our Chief Minister yesterday.
“The new PWCC at the Light City will cater for business events which are on the rise. For the information of the general public, big congress events and conferences are booked much ahead, for example, like two to three years ahead.
As such, the up-coming PWCC can help us bid for a major ahead of their actual date and uplift Penang to position itself on the global platform,” said Ashwin.