GEORGE TOWN, May 8 — Penang has remained as the country’s industrial heartbeat and is recognised as one of the region’s centres for high-impact technology and investment.

The Penang Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Ramli Ngah Talib said Penang’s approved investments for 2025 totalled RM63.96 billion, citing information from the Malaysian Investment Development Authority.

Out of the total approved investments, domestic investments amounted to RM38.85 billion while foreign investment amounted to about RM25.10 billion.

“The manufacturing sector remained the main driver with a value of around RM22.38 billion, led by the Electrical and Electronics industry,” he said in his speech at the opening of the First Meeting of the Fourth Session of the 15th Penang State Legislative Assembly here today.

Meanwhile, he said the services sector recorded around RM41.22 billion, with major contributions from the Information and Communications Technology subsector.

He said Penang also recorded about RM956.37 billion in total trade for 2025, an increase of 17.9 per cent compared to the previous year.

“Of this amount, exports totalled RM573.91 billion while imports stood at RM382.46 billion, maintaining Penang’s position as one of the country’s main export contributors with approximately 35.7 per cent of Malaysia’s total exports,” he said.

He said these achievements reflect the strength of Penang’s investment ecosystem, which remains competitive, stable, and trusted by domestic and international investors alike.

Ramli said the digital economy has emerged as a new driver for the state’s economy with an aim for it to contribute up to 35 per cent of the state’s GDP by 2030.

He said the state has the potential to attract RM20 billion in digital investments and create 50,000 high-skilled jobs.

“Within this ecosystem, startups in the state continue to show positive growth, with RM23 million in funding secured between 2023 and early 2026,” he said.

He said 300 startups had registered by 2025, representing approximately 60 per cent of the Penang2030 target.