Penang:<Text>

The Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) industry in Penang recorded an estimated economic impact (EEI) of RM1 billion last year. State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said MICE is an important sector in driving Penang's economic growth.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Wong highlighted that the MICE activities in 2025 covered sectors such as transportation, retail, hospitality, and supply chain in the state. The presence of the Penang Waterfront Convention Centre (PWCC) is expected to elevate the economic impact figure further in 2026, with a rise in demand for event hosting. Wong shared these insights following a working visit to PWCC by Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, accompanied by IJM director Datuk Tony Ling Thou Lung.

Chief Minister Chow expressed that the MICE sector in Penang has shown growth in recent years, attributed to the efforts of the Penang Convention and Exhibition Bureau (PCEB) a nd Penang Global Tourism (PGT). He emphasized that the PWCC is set to be a pivotal element in reinforcing Penang's status as a tourism and MICE hub, both regionally and nationally.

Chow explained that the new convention centre is not intended to compete with existing facilities but to meet the increasing demand from event organizers and tourists. He noted that since its opening in October last year, PWCC has enhanced the MICE ecosystem in Penang, with further developments such as a shopping mall, office spaces, and a hotel expected to be completed by mid-year.

The Chief Minister commented that the mixed-use development at PWCC serves as a development catalyst, supporting the convention centre and neighboring areas. He congratulated IJM and its partners for delivering an international-standard facility to Penang and Malaysia.

IJM's Datuk Tony Ling Thou Lung remarked that the shopping mall within PWCC is designed as part of a strategic integrated development , avoiding issues of oversupply. Ling stated that the mall, along with the office spaces and hotel, supports the convention centre's functions and amenities for the area.

The media previously reported that this freehold project, valued at RM4.5 billion, covers a gross floor area exceeding 330,000 square feet along the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway, near the Penang Bridge and The Light Waterfront. PWCC is a key component of the Penang waterfront development, a collaboration between IJM Corporation Bhd and Singapore-based Perennial Holdings Private Ltd.