 As of 2015, Penang attracted nearly RM4.5 billion worth of foreign direct investment (FDI), the largest amount in Malaysia, with significant investments going to the manufacturing sector.In addition, the Free Industrial Zone has helped propel the manufacturing sector to become one of the major contributors to Penang's economy, generating as much as 44.6% of Penang's total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2016.In recent years, the Penang state government has allocated investments towards the development of the Bayan Baru township into a Business Processing Outsourcing (BPO) hub.