By V. Sivaji
The very first Penang-India Future Forward Summit 2025 kicked off at the St Giles Wembley Hotel here.
More than 200 participants from India are taking part in the gathering which was officiated by Penang Chief Minister YAB Chow Kon Yeow.
He was accompanied by Penang Deputy Chief Minister II, YB Jagdeep Singh Deo. Also present was the High Commissioner of India to Malaysia HE Mr B.N Reddy and a host of dignitaries and Datuk Seri Sundarajoo Somu State Exco for Housing and Environment.
The gathering is on for three-days till March 28, 2025.
The summit is the result of Jagdeep’s visit to India last December where he met E&E, AI, Semiconductor and business related representatives.
Chow in his opening remarks stressed that the summit is an opportunity to forge meaningful collaborations that will shape the future of Malaysia-India STEM, artificial intelligence, and the semiconductor partnership.
“STEM is no longer a field of study; it is the backbone of economic growth, industrial progress, and societal advancement. Both India and Penang have long been recognized 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.
“Penang, often hailed as the ‘Silicon Valley of the East’, has played a critical role in the global semiconductor supply chain for over five decades now.
“By leveraging on national and regional initiatives, Penang and India can work together to develop a robust semiconductor ecosystem that supports design, fabrication, and advanced packaging technologies,” added Chow.
He also highlighted the role of artificial intelligence as another game-changer in this era of rapid technological advancement.
Meanwhile, Jagdeep expressed the importance of continuing this summit to achieve success for mutual benefit.
“I was in India in December and met many ministers and parliament representatives. This is one of the outcomes of the trip.
“Here in Penang we have 450 multinationals and it is still growing. And if you ask why Penang? This is because we have the excellent ecosystem to start your industry,” added Jagdeep.
In response, Reddy expressed his delight in the inaugural Penang-India Future Forward Summit.
“I thank YB Jagdeep for inviting me for this 3-day event. We continuously seek to explore synergies between both countries.
“The state is a leader in the semiconductor industry and I also note the historical connection between both countries. There are spiritual, historical and cultural. Our relationship is a continuous evolution,” he added.
The summit is also attended by university students and industry players and stakeholders.