Courtesy Call by PDX2026 Organising Chairman
2026/8/14
On August 14th, Mr. Shinya Machida, Consul-General of Japan in Penang, received a courtesy call from Mr. Lukas Tan Jian Ming, Organising Chairman of PDX2026 and Founder and CEO of OPERION Ecommerce & Software Sdn. Bhd., and Mr. Kenny Ng, Co-founder and CEO of Inspiren Network Sdn. Bhd.
PDX is a Penang-based conference and exhibition focusing on areas such as AI, digitalisation and smart manufacturing, bringing together businesses, technology and solution providers, and other stakeholders (the first PDX was held in 2025). Mr. Machida was the first Japanese Consul-General to attend PDX. During the meeting, the PDX representatives briefed Mr. Machida on the achievements of PDX2026 and preparations for PDX2027, which is scheduled to be held next year. They also introduced a plan to incorporate an AI hackathon involving approximately 300 students from several universities into the PDX2027 programme. The representatives explained that limited knowledge and financial resources remain among the challenges facing SMEs in adopting AI, and stressed the importance of using practical AI applications to help increase their revenues.
Mr. Machida introduced Japan’s recent AI policy, as well as emerging cooperation between Japan and Penang in areas including AI, semiconductors and automation, and exchanged views on potential collaboration with Japanese companies and universities. The PDX representatives noted that demand for AI, automation and other technological solutions is growing alongside the development of Penang’s manufacturing and semiconductor industries, and expressed interest in participation by Japanese companies in PDX as well as the possibility of a Japan–Malaysia AI hackathon involving university students.
The Consulate-General of Japan in Penang will continue to promote exchanges and concrete collaboration between Japanese and Penang-based companies and universities in advanced technology fields, including AI, semiconductors and smart manufacturing.
PDX is a Penang-based conference and exhibition focusing on areas such as AI, digitalisation and smart manufacturing, bringing together businesses, technology and solution providers, and other stakeholders (the first PDX was held in 2025). Mr. Machida was the first Japanese Consul-General to attend PDX. During the meeting, the PDX representatives briefed Mr. Machida on the achievements of PDX2026 and preparations for PDX2027, which is scheduled to be held next year. They also introduced a plan to incorporate an AI hackathon involving approximately 300 students from several universities into the PDX2027 programme. The representatives explained that limited knowledge and financial resources remain among the challenges facing SMEs in adopting AI, and stressed the importance of using practical AI applications to help increase their revenues.
Mr. Machida introduced Japan’s recent AI policy, as well as emerging cooperation between Japan and Penang in areas including AI, semiconductors and automation, and exchanged views on potential collaboration with Japanese companies and universities. The PDX representatives noted that demand for AI, automation and other technological solutions is growing alongside the development of Penang’s manufacturing and semiconductor industries, and expressed interest in participation by Japanese companies in PDX as well as the possibility of a Japan–Malaysia AI hackathon involving university students.
The Consulate-General of Japan in Penang will continue to promote exchanges and concrete collaboration between Japanese and Penang-based companies and universities in advanced technology fields, including AI, semiconductors and smart manufacturing.