Penang launches the Penang GBS Industry Academy (PGIA) 2.0: #GenAI Talent Ready, a forward-looking initiative aimed at developing next-generation artificial intelligence (AI) talent to accelerate innovation, support industry growth, and drive digital transformation.

Spearheaded by InvestPenang, and supported by Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), Penang Skills Development Centre (PSDC), and Penang GBS Focus Group (Penang GFG), PGIA 2.0 builds upon the success of PGIA 1.0 by introducing a structured upskilling framework focused on artificial intelligence (AI), InvestPenang said in a statement on last Thursday.

According to the statement, the program targets professionals, new hires, and fresh graduates, equipping them with essential skills to facilitate AI adoption and bolster Malaysia’s digital economy.

In alignment with the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030), National Semiconductor Strategy (NSS), MyDIGITAL, and the National AI Office (NAIO), the program aims to: (1) train and upskill AI talent across key industries – IC design with embedded software, GBS, and robotic automation; (2) bridge the AI talent gap by developing a future-ready AI-competent workforce; and (3) advance Malaysia’s digital economy with training programs aligned with industry demands.

PGIA 2.0 sets a goal of training 500 GenAI talent by 2026.

Phase 1 of the program will commence in July and run through to December 2025, with a target of training and upskilling 100 GenAI talent across key industries.

This will be followed by Phase 2 in 2026, which aims to expand the impact by developing an additional 400 talent, further strengthening Penang’s GenAI-ready workforce for the future.

PGIA was launched on 8 November 2022 as a collaborative initiative between InvestPenang, MDEC, PSDC and Penang GFG to bridge the talent supply-demand gap and enhance the competitiveness of GBS talent in the state.

Since its inception, PGIA has successfully trained 1,105 participants across 40 courses.

In 2024, Penang recorded MYR 14.7 billion ($3.48 billion) in approved investments in the services sector alone —accounting for 46 percent of the state’s total approved investments.

This underscores Penang’s growing prominence as a strategic hub for high-value services.

With more than 200 and counting Malaysia Digital Status companies, Penang continues to reinforce its position as a thriving digital and innovation hub.

It is noted that as the digital economy is projected to contribute 25.5 percent to Malaysia’s gross domestic product (GDP) and generate over 500,000 jobs by year-end, Penang is well-positioned to lead the nation’s digitalization efforts—driven by a dynamic ecosystem, deep industry linkages, and a strong talent pipeline.

Ranking second only to Kuala Lumpur in GBS investments, Penang has established itself as a key node for global and regional service operations.

The PGIA 2.0 was launched in conjunction with the Penang Career Discovery Day 2025 organised by InvestPenang and supported by Penang GFG as part of the “Penang Silicon Design @5km+” initiative. 

#GenAI #DigitalTransformation #AIUpskilling #FutureWorkforce #PenangInnovation