Consul-General Attends the Official Opening Ceremony of PDX 2026
2026/7/17
On July 16th, Mr. Shinya Machida, Consul-General of Japan in Penang, attended the official opening ceremony of the Penang Digitalisation-AI Conference & Exhibition 2026 (PDX 2026), held at the Setia SPICE Convention Centre in Penang.
PDX is a conference and exhibition that brings together government agencies, business leaders, technology providers, entrepreneurs, researchers and other stakeholders to promote digitalisation among SMEs and other organisations. The inaugural event was held in May 2025, and this year’s edition was expanded into a two-day programme held on July 15th and 16th.
Under the theme “Leading Organisations Through AI & Innovation,” this year’s programme featured lectures, panel discussions and exhibitions on the adoption of AI, digital transformation, smart manufacturing, human resource development, ESG and cross-border business collaboration.
The official opening ceremony was attended by YB Wong Hon Wai, Penang State EXCO for Tourism and Creative Economy; Mr. Lucas J. Tan, Organising Chairman; representatives from the Ministry of Digital and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation; representatives of Digital Penang; Ms. Ding Qiao, Deputy Consul-General of China in Penang; and representatives of companies and organisations.
In his remarks, Mr. Tan stated that while many SMEs recognise the importance of digitalisation and AI, they often face the challenge of not knowing where to begin. He also expressed his intention for PDX to serve as a platform connecting government policies and initiatives with the needs of businesses on the ground, while facilitating communication between management and technology professionals.
YB Wong Hon Wai stated that digitalisation is having an impact not only on manufacturing, but also on a wide range of areas, including public administration, business management, public services, tourism and the creative industries. Referring to his previous experience as an IT engineer, he emphasised that, amid the rapid development of AI and automation, people of all generations need to continue learning and to acquire both language skills and the ability to communicate effectively with machines.
Following the official launch, Mr. Machida toured the exhibition together with YB Wong Hon Wai and other distinguished guests. Approximately 70 companies from Malaysia and Singapore showcased products and services related to AI, business automation, software, digital payments, project management, digital marketing and human resource development.
The Consulate-General will continue to closely monitor developments in AI and other advanced technologies in Malaysia and Penang, and to maintain a clear understanding of emerging trends. Where appropriate, we will also pursue initiatives, including collaboration with Japanese companies, that contribute to the Japanese economy.
PDX is a conference and exhibition that brings together government agencies, business leaders, technology providers, entrepreneurs, researchers and other stakeholders to promote digitalisation among SMEs and other organisations. The inaugural event was held in May 2025, and this year’s edition was expanded into a two-day programme held on July 15th and 16th.
Under the theme “Leading Organisations Through AI & Innovation,” this year’s programme featured lectures, panel discussions and exhibitions on the adoption of AI, digital transformation, smart manufacturing, human resource development, ESG and cross-border business collaboration.
The official opening ceremony was attended by YB Wong Hon Wai, Penang State EXCO for Tourism and Creative Economy; Mr. Lucas J. Tan, Organising Chairman; representatives from the Ministry of Digital and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation; representatives of Digital Penang; Ms. Ding Qiao, Deputy Consul-General of China in Penang; and representatives of companies and organisations.
In his remarks, Mr. Tan stated that while many SMEs recognise the importance of digitalisation and AI, they often face the challenge of not knowing where to begin. He also expressed his intention for PDX to serve as a platform connecting government policies and initiatives with the needs of businesses on the ground, while facilitating communication between management and technology professionals.
YB Wong Hon Wai stated that digitalisation is having an impact not only on manufacturing, but also on a wide range of areas, including public administration, business management, public services, tourism and the creative industries. Referring to his previous experience as an IT engineer, he emphasised that, amid the rapid development of AI and automation, people of all generations need to continue learning and to acquire both language skills and the ability to communicate effectively with machines.
Following the official launch, Mr. Machida toured the exhibition together with YB Wong Hon Wai and other distinguished guests. Approximately 70 companies from Malaysia and Singapore showcased products and services related to AI, business automation, software, digital payments, project management, digital marketing and human resource development.
The Consulate-General will continue to closely monitor developments in AI and other advanced technologies in Malaysia and Penang, and to maintain a clear understanding of emerging trends. Where appropriate, we will also pursue initiatives, including collaboration with Japanese companies, that contribute to the Japanese economy.
