Click here to view more photos

PENANG, 5 NOVEMBER 2025 –  Penang announced the development of GBS@Technoplex — a new, state-of-the-art, green-certified hybrid office development located in Bayan Lepas Technoplex, built for Global Business Services (GBS), IC design, R&D, and digital companies. Developed by Penang Development Corporation (PDC), the 10-storey facility is targeted for completion by end-2028. It will feature flexible layouts, high floor loading capacity (5kN) and 100% backup power. The project will expand Penang’s modern hybrid office space to over one million square feet within the Penang IC Design & Digital Park.

This announcement was made at the 7th Penang GBS Conference 2025, themed “AI in Action: Transforming the Future of GBS.” Organised by InvestPenang with strong support from the Penang GBS Focus Group, the conference highlighted the growing importance of AI adoption in the GBS sector and its role in driving Penang’s next phase of economic transformation.

Mr. Chow Kon Yeow, the Right Honourable Chief Minister of Penang, stated, “AI is no longer an emerging technology; it is fast becoming a core enabler across industries. To support this transformation, Penang has developed a series of hybrid offices — the only state in Malaysia to do so — tailored for IC design, Digital and GBS investments, providing innovation-ready spaces that empower AI-driven growth and global collaboration.”

Over the past decades, Penang has built a robust ecosystem for high-value services, design, and digital innovation. Today, the state is home to approximately 90 GBS and shared services companies, employing over 20,000 professionals across diverse sectors.

The GBS industry itself has undergone a profound evolution, moving from traditional support functions to becoming a key driver of operational excellence and strategic transformation. According to the AI Awareness and Adoption in GBS Organisations Survey 2024 by AGOS Transforming Finance, 34% of Malaysian GBS organisations aim to enhance operational efficiency and achieve cost savings through AI integration, while 24% focus on accelerating innovation and service development.

The conference convened over 200 industry leaders to discuss how AI is reshaping the GBS landscape through innovation, automation, and smarter decision-making. Participants also engaged in roundtable discussions and explored real-world AI applications through live demonstrations by leading local and international companies.

In conjunction with the conference, Mr. Chow Kon Yeow, the Right Honourable Chief Minister of Penang also launched the Penang GBS Nodes Map, features key locations and state-developed buildings that support the industry’s expansion, underscoring Penang’s role as a regional hub for innovation and excellence. The Penang GBS Nodes Map will be made available in InvestPenang official website.

With a strong talent base, advanced infrastructure, and a progressive policy environment, Penang is well-positioned to lead Malaysia’s next wave of AI-driven digital growth — cementing its role as nation’s leading AI-driven GBS and Digital Innovation Hub.

To register your interest in GBS@Technoplex, please contact Tun Qurratul Ain at ain@investpenang.gov.my.

END

About InvestPenang       
InvestPenang is the Penang State Government’s principal agency for the promotion of investment. Its objectives are to develop and sustain Penang’s economy by enhancing and continuously supporting business activities in the State through foreign and local investments, including spawning viable new growth centers. To realise its objectives, InvestPenang also runs initiatives like the SMART Penang Center (providing assistance to SMEs), Penang CAT Center (for talent attraction and retention), Global Business Services (GBS) Focus Group (promoting and developing digital economy), and Penang Silicon Design @5km+ (establishing a unique and interconnected ecosystem for IC design and technology enterprises). For more information, please visit https://investpenang.gov.my/ and follow InvestPenang’s social media channels: Facebook; LinkedIn; WhatsApp Channel and TikTok.

About GBS Focus Group (GFG) Penang Chapter
To spearhead more focused growth Digital Economy industry in Penang, the State via InvestPenang has established the Global Business Services Focus Group (GFG) Penang Chapter. This initiative, led by InvestPenang, includes representatives from UST Global, AMD, Citigroup, Clarivate, Infineon Technologies, Synopsys, Toll Global and Wilmar GBS. The GFG Penang Chapter aims to advise and advocate for the Penang State Government in positioning Penang as a preferred destination for investments in the digital economy, with a specific focus on the Global Shared Services (GBS) sector. This involves guiding the planning, development, and promotion of the industry in Penang. For more information, please visit: https://investpenang.gov.my/gbs-focus-group-gfg/.

For media enquiries, please contact:

InvestPenang
Elaine Cheah / Arief Ferdaus
elaine@investpenang.gov.my / arief@investpenang.gov.my
T: +604-646 8833

Penang GBS Focus Group initiatives
Tun Qurratul Ain
ain@investpenang.gov.my
T: +604-646 8833