Look out for loads of fun activities like food festivals, cultural events, orchestra presentation, culinary showcase, educational programmes, tree planting ceremony, heritage trail among others coming to Georgetown in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of George Town and Adelaide sister city status.
This year 2023 marks an important milestone for George Town (Penang) and Adelaide (South Australia) as it is the 50 years anniversary of sister city partnership between both cities since 1973.
To celebrate the shared history of George Town and the city of Adelaide, The Penang State Executive Councillor for Tourism and Creative Economy cum Chairperson of the Sister City and Friendship City Coordination Committee, YB Yeoh Soon Hin has laid out several plans to kick-start this momentous year for both cities, together with the respective local councils.
“The Penang State Government is in preparation to publish commemorative books to encapsulate our memories over the years and recommence sister city week festivals in both cities,” said Yeoh after meeting with the High Commissioner of Australia to Malaysia, H.E. Dr Justin Lee recently.
Yeoh said that this golden jubilee anniversary of the sister city partnership is an indication of Penang as a state, playing its role to strengthen diplomatic and cultural relations with the Australian.
Both Yeoh and Dr Justin believe that this relationship has provided both cities opportunities to learn from each other, share unique customs and traditions, and work together to build a brighter future for both communities.
This is also a great chance to reconnect with Adelaide as the Penang State Government pursues to enhance opportunities beyond tourism and creative economy industry.
“To stimulate new opportunities of growth for the state, it is time to start the year by re-establishing ties, making new friends, and getting the opportunity to showcase Penang as a true melting pot of cultures,” said Yeoh.
Dr Justin said both sides will also announce the collaborative programmes in the coming months soon.
We are ex residents of Adelaide (one was born in Adelaide, the other an ex Kiwi) now living in Penang. We have many pleasant memories of Adelaide and am pleased to connect them with our new place of residence. (Tanjung Bungha). We lived in Prospect for 35 years and enjoyed the experience of seeing the change in culture (especially the food) . Penang is now home but we still feel connected in some ways to Adelaide.