The government strives to position the Penang Port as cargo port to attract shipping from southern Thailand in order to achieve the target of turning Malaysia into a logistics hub in the ASEAN region.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the ministry had directed the Penang Port Authority to outline its policy and development plan to increase the volume of cargo at the port.

"We know that Penang is a rapid growth centre, primarily through Penang Port and Penang International Airport. We are confident that this port could boost the container TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), hence, spur the state''s economic development.

"The Penang Port expansion, particularly the cruise ship terminal, can be stepped up," he told reporters after opening the Penang MCA Belt and Road Centre here today.

Liow said with the opening of the centre, information on the Belt and Road initiative could be relayed not only in the city but also in suburban areas through a mobile unit.

"The centre endeavours to ensure that the mobile unit reaches the target groups not only in Penang, but also the areas where talks and forums are needed to enlighten them on the Belt and Road initiative and how they could benefit from it.

"I''m confident that this centre can give a huge boost to Penang's economy and the country," he said, adding that the effort proved that MCA was committed to economic development and cooperation among countries involved in China's Belt and Road initiative.

The MCA Belt and Road Centre (Mbrace), which was launched December last year, aims to enable Malaysian and Chinese entrepreneurs to seize opportunities through information exchange and business matching programmes.

-- BERNAMA