George Town Conservation & Development Corporation Sdn Bhd (GTCDC) today signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Embassy Of France, Kuala Lumpur to further enhance cooperation in the field of arts, culture , heritage and social development.

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the MOU is also aimed at furthering expert and artist exchange programmes, capacity building and arts activities between George Town (Penang) and Arles (France) since both were recognised as United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) World Heritage Sites.

"The Penang state government is pleased to enter into this partnership with the Embassy of France and the City of Arles to build up a new economy based on culture . This is important to make our local economy more resilient.

"Culture is a renewable asset and we need to build up our existing cultural instituions so that they become more resilient. We would like to learn from the French experience , a nation that is based on culture and that has a cultural and creative economy estimated to be worth Euro 104.5 billion in 2011. Besides that , we can share our unique multicultural and ethnic diversity with the French Government," he said at the signing ceremony here today.

French Ambassador to Malaysia Frédéric Laplanche signed on behalf of the embassy.

Also present were Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng and Member of Parliament for Permatang Pauh Nurul Izzah Anwar.

Chow said the MOU also sought to build upon existing linkages between the French embassy in Kuala Lumpur, GTCDC and the Mairie d'Arles on the basis of enhancing knowledge, cultural exchange and capacity building programmes that will lead towards developing a sister -city programme between George Town Unesco World heritage Site and Arles Unesco World Heritage Site.

He said the MOU covers three key areas which are Capacity Building, Artist in Residence Programme and Knowledge Exchange and Partnership.

RM898k taxi, bus incentives

Meanwhile, at another function for taxi drivers and school bus operators in the state, Chow said the Penang government had allocated RM898,500 to be distributed to 2,995 taxi drivers and school bus operators in the state under its incentive scheme for them.

A total of 2,342 licensed taxi drivers and 653 school bus operators are eligible to receive RM300 each under the scheme.

The incentive is in appreciation of their services in providing public transportation at affordable rates and taxi drivers being “ambassadors” of tourism for Penang, the popular holiday destination known as the “Pearl of the Orient”.

Gabungan Persatuan Pemandu Teksi Pulau Pinang (Gabungan) chairman Abdul Malik Darus, who was present, thanked the state government for providing the incentive since 2013 saying it helped the families in celebrating Aidiftri.

- Bernama