Penang: Increasing Penang’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contribution from RM116 billion in 2023 to RM156 billion by 2030 is among the key success metrics under the newly launched Digital Economy Master Plan (DEMP) 2025-2030. State Infrastructure, Transport and Digital Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari stated that the strategic plan aims to raise the digital economy’s contribution to 35 percent of Penang’s GDP by 2030, with digital investments projected to reach up to RM20 billion in areas such as integrated circuit (IC) design and RM130 billion in advanced semiconductor manufacturing.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the plan also outlines several socio-economic targets, including increasing the state’s median household income by approximately 17 percent to RM7,700 by 2030. It aims to create 50,000 new digital jobs and upskill 30 percent of the workforce. Zairil emphasized that the Penang DEMP 2025-2030 is not just a document, but a blueprint for action to build a connected, competitive, and inclusive digital Penang. The goals include transforming civil service delivery, boosting the number of digital-ready businesses and a digitally savvy workforce, attracting greater digital investment into economic ecosystems, and making Penang a hub for emerging and frontier technologies.
The plan also includes objectives to reduce energy intensity by 25 percent and increase renewable energy usage to 10 percent by the end of the plan period. Zairil noted that the DEMP is structured around four strategic pillars: Digital Government, Digital Economy, Digital Society, and Digital Foundation, supported by 16 initiatives to ensure Penang can achieve its vision, mission, and strategic goals.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who officiated the launch, stated that the DEMP 2025-2030 serves as a long-term strategic roadmap aimed at positioning Penang as a digital-first economy focused on innovation, infrastructure, talent development, and inclusive digital access. He emphasized that the plan lays out clear strategies to empower mature workers and senior citizens through digital tools, skilling programs, and services that are accessible and age-friendly.
Chow highlighted that with the recent tabling of the 13th Malaysia Plan, the national agenda is shifting towards a more inclusive, high-tech, and aging-resilient economy. In Penang, the digital economy plays a crucial role in economic resilience, contributing significantly to the services sector, which constitutes up to 50 percent of the state’s GDP annually. He noted that under the previous Digital Transformation Master Plan (DTMP) 1.0 from 2021 to 2023, more than 60 percent of the 21 outlined initiatives were either completed or are ongoing, showing strong alignment with the state’s strategic goals.
DEMP 2025-2030 represents a long-term commitment to advancing Penang’s digital ecosystem and fostering collaborative efforts between the state and federal governments, government-linked companies, industry players, and technology leaders.