Manufacturing contributes 40% to state GDP

THE story of Penang's industrialisation can be traced back to 1969 when the Penang Development Corp (PDC) was formed and entrusted with the task of bringing the state into the industrial age.

PDC founder and first chairman Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu initiated the effort to move Penang into the industrial era because its free port status was eroding and unemployment in the state in 1969 stood at 16%.