Thursday, 19 June 2014

The Key Industrial Hub In Southern Peninsular Malaysia

The Key Industrial Hub In Southern Peninsular Malaysia






Overview:



As one of the key components of Iskandar Malaysia, the industrial and manufacturing hub in the southern region of Peninsular Malaysia encompasses 31,132 ha of the Pasir Gudang area. Flagship D covers Pasir Gudang Port, Pasir Gudang Industrial Park, Tanjung Langsat Port and Tanjung Langsat Industrial Complex.


Current key economic activities in Flagship D are focused on heavy industries and logistics, including electrical and electronics (E&E), chemical, oleochemical, food and engineering-based industries as well as ports and logistics and warehousing. Flagship D has the largest concentration of palm oil refining industries and downstream activities in the world.


Key players in Pasir Gudang include both local and international companies such as Bahru Steel, Panasonic, Titan, Kiswire, Western Digital and IOI Loders.


Most land banks in Flagship D are industrial zone (leasehold: '30+30'-year lease or 60-year lease) and residential-type (freehold and leasehold).


As of 15 February 2008, the price of industrial land in Pasir Gudang ranged between RM14 - RM20 (US$5 - US$7) per sq ft for a '30+30'-year lease and RM17 - RM30 (US$6 - US$10) per sq ft for a 60-year lease.


Location:


Pasir Gudang is located 30 km east of Johor Bahru. It is located at the western end of the Johor Bahru metropolitan area. The population is around 100,000.


Key Functions/Activities:


Key economic activities in the Pasir Gudang area are electrical and electronic (E&E), chemical, oleochemical, chemical biofuels, food products, engineering-based industries, ports and logistics, warehousing, research and development (R&D) and plastics.


Historical Background:


The name Pasir Gudang originated from the existence of a sand mine at Kampung Ulu. Sand or 'pasir' in Malay was mined and stocked in sand pits/stores (or 'gudang' in Malay) before it was exported to Singapore, hence the name 'Pasir Gudang'. Pasir Gudang was initially an agricultural area in the early 20th century. In 1969, FELDA land schemes were founded in the Pasir Gudang area. To further develop the western part of Johor, the State Government converted the estate lands into industrial and housing areas in order to develop Pasir Gudang into an industrial area.


Connectivity:


Currently, Flagship D is connected by the four-lane Pasir Gudang Highway, a trunk road and a railway line to Johor Bahru.


Key Landmarks:

APTEC City



Pasir Gudang Circuit



Pasir Gudang Industrial Park



Tanjung Langsat Port






Saturday, 14 June 2014

The heart of Asia logistic route - Port of Tanjung Pelepas, Malaysia

The heart of Asia logistic route  
Port of Tanjung Pelepas, Malaysia




Overview:


The key economic activities in Flagship C are port and marine services, warehousing, logistics, engineering, hi-tech manufacturing, food production, petrochemical industry, entreport trade. Flagship C boasts a logistic centre, regional distribution centres, regional procurement centres and utilities (power).


MMC Corp Bhd, a public-listed company in Bursa Malaysia, is the main player in Flagship C via its shareholdings in the Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) and the Tanjung Bin Power Plant.


Most of the land banks in Flagship C are agricultural lands and mangrove forests.


In terms of land bank availability, about 700 acres in the Free Trade Zone in Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) are still available for development in various sectors including warehousing, international procurement and more. The proposed 2,215 acres of the Maritime Centre at Tanjung Bin also offer investment opportunities to players in oil and gas industry.


As of February 2008, land prices in Flagship C ranged around RM18 (US$5) per sq ft (for industrial/commercial use).


Convenient expressways connect the area to Johor Bahru and Kuala Lumpur. It takes only 30 minutes to drive from Flagship C to Johor Bahru and the Senai Airport. In the future, there will be a MRT/LRT system connecting Flagship C to the Johor Bahru City Centre and elsewhere.


Location:


Flagship C is located within the south-western region of Iskandar Malaysia. It is bound by Mukim Jeram Batu and Mukim Jelutong to the north; Mukim Serkat and Mukim Sungai Karang to the west; Selat Tebrau to the south; and Gelang Patah and Nusajaya to the east. It covers an area of more than 30,000 acres.


Connectivity:


Flagship C is accessible via local roads from the Second Link Expressway and is also connected to the North-South Expressway and Pasir Gudang Highway. By sea, it is accessible via the Port of Tanjung Pelepas.


Historical Background:


Back in 1994, Flagship C used to be a fishing village surrounded mostly by Ramsar zones and agricultural land banks. Today, the area has been developed into one of the most important maritime hubs in Malaysia. Its flagship, Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP), is located on the eastern mouth of the Pulai River in South-western Johor, Malaysia.


Key Landmarks:


Port of Tanjung Pelepas


Second link to Singapore


Tanjung Bin Power Plant


Ramsar Heritage Park


Bunker Terminal


Maritime Centre











Wednesday, 11 June 2014

All about Johor Iskandar - Investment New Era

Johor Iskandar - The next investment era 





Overview:


Nusajaya, a key component of Iskandar Malaysia with 24,000 acres of contiguous development-ready land, is one of the largest property development in South East Asia. Flagship B will be a major new growth centre of Iskandar Malaysia where most of the catalyst projects will be developed within the area. The projected population size for this area by 2025 is 500,000.


Current key economic activities in Flagship B are focused on mixed property development, state & federal administration and logistics. Going forward, Flagship B would be the hub for creative arts and entertainment, medical facilities, educational institutions, tourism, biotechnology and hi-tech manufacturing. Hence, Flagship B offers a wide range of investment opportunities for investors to participate in the development of Iskandar Malaysia, either by embarking in joint-venture developments or acquiring parcels of prime development land in Nusajaya.


Key players in Nusajaya are property developers including UEM Land, Iskandar Investment Berhad and Mulpha International Bhd, SP Setia, to name a few. In August 2007, the Middle Eastern Consortium (Mubadala, Kuwait Finance House and Millennium Development) and Iskandar Investment Berhad had signed a MOU to develop a RM4.2 billion (US$1.2 billion) integrated international city development, referred to as Medini (formerly known as Node 1).


Most land banks in Flagship B are Residential (freehold and leasehold) and Industrial types (freehold or 20+40-year leasehold)


Location:


Nusajaya is located west of Johor Bahru, in close proximity to Port of Tanjung Pelepas and Gelang Patah. It is also strategically located within a 45-minute drive from Singapore's Changi International Airport, a regional aviation hub, and 20 minutes from Johor's Senai International Airport. The regional city combines residential, commercial and industrial elements.


Key Functions / Activities:


Nusajaya comprises seven signature developments: Kota Iskandar (Johor state new administrative centre), the Southern Industrial and Logistics Clusters (SiLC), Puteri Harbour Waterfront Development, EduCity, Afiat Healthpark, International Destination Resort and Nusajaya Residences, all within a city that sets the benchmark for integrated developments across the globe.


Historical Background:


Nusajaya's planning was seeded in the mid 1990s when the Malaysia-Singapore Second Link was in the planning process. However, the regional financial crisis in 1997 took its toll and set the development back by several years. In 2003, there was a restructuring of land use. A revised Master Plan, approved by the Johor State Government, formulated a framework that included several catalyst developments that were deemed necessary to kick-start Nusajaya's growth.


Connectivity to Singapore:


Flagship B is conveniently accessible from the Linkedua Highway via the Pulai Interchange, as well as via the B5 Road from the Gelang Patah Interchange. It is only a 15-minute drive from Nusajaya to the Linkedua Highway.


Key Landmarks:


Afiat Healthpark


Educity @ Iskandar


Kota Iskandar


Nusajaya Residence


Puteri Harbour












Monday, 9 June 2014

Malaysia Business Incentive Hub - Johor Iskandar

Malaysia Next Business Incentive Waiver Hub - Johor Iskandar



***Image from www.iskandarmalaysia.com.my***

Overview:


The city of Johor Bahru is Malaysia's 'Southern Gateway', receiving 60% of foreign tourists who visit Malaysia. It is a major holiday and shopping destination for neighbouring Singaporeans due to the comparatively lower cost of goods and services.


The current key economic activities in Flagship A are financial services, commerce and retail, arts and culture, hospitality, urban tourism, plastic manufacturing, electrical and electronics (E&E) and food processing.


As of February 2008, land prices in Flagship A range from RM30 to RM150 (US$9 - US$45) per sq ft for residential use, and RM70 to RM280 (US$20 - US$45) per sq ft for commercial use.
In the future, a multi-modal terminal will be developed in Flagship A, as well as an MRT/LRT system connecting Johor Bahru City Centre to other areas in Iskandar Malaysia.


Location:


Johor Bahru is located within the central region of Iskandar Malaysia. It is bound by Senai to the north, Nusajaya to the west, Singapore to the south, and Pasir Gudang to the east.


Key players:


Key players in Flagship A include global financial institutions - Citigroup, HSBC and Kuwait Finance House, major manufacturers - YKK, Celestica, Lion Group, Sumitomo and Kerry’s Ingredients as well as local developers - Danga Bay Holdings, Pelangi, Mah Sing and Crescendo.


Populations:


One of Southeast Asia's most populous urban areas, Johor Bahru is an important industrial, tourist and commercial hub for Southern Peninsular Malaysia. With a population slightly above 1 million in the city, the population growth rate is among the highest in Malaysia.


Connectivity:


There are two major highways linking the city centre to the suburbs, with the Tebrau Highway linking the city to the north-east and the Tun Abdul Razak (TAR) Highway/Senai-Skudai Highway linking it to the north-west.


The Pasir Gudang Highway and the connecting Johor Bahru Parkway cross Tebrau Highway and TAR Highway about midway, serving as the Middle Ring Road of the metropolitan area.


The Causeway links the city to Singapore with a six-lane road and a railway line.


Additionally, three more highway s are being constructed which are the Coastal Highway (Danga Bay-Nusajaya), the Eastern Dispersal Link (JB CIQ-North/South highway) and East-West Link (Permas-Pasir Gudang).


Key Landmarks:


CIQ



Sultan Ibrahim Building




City Centre








Causeway Link




Danga Bay






Thursday, 5 June 2014

Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak visits China








Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak walks with Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang during the signing ceremony of the Joint Communique at the 40th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relation between Malaysia and China at the Great Hall of People.




BEIJING: Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today called for the establishment of a concrete and comprehensive mechanism to successfully implement plans to shape Malaysia-China diplomatic relations over the next 40 years.


He suggested that the mechanism encompass five measures, namely intensifying and strengthening relations in the socio-cultural, values and humanitarian fields; giving value added to the chair of Malay studies of the Malaysian government in China; stepping up cooperation in publication and translation; forging collaboration in research and intensifying regular exchange of students and participants between Malaysia and China.


The prime minister said the intensifying and strengthening of relations in the socio-cultural, values and humanitarian fields were important in shaping an excellent nation state founded on noble and humanitarian values.


“As such, the collaborative relationship between Malaysia and China encompassing various cultural activities should always be reinforced. Emphasis on noble and universal values should be stepped up and cooperation in the humanitarian field should be forged and empowered for mutual benefit," he said.


On the chair of Malay studies of the Malaysian government in China, Najib said the chair, which was established in 2008, should be given value added to make it more proactive and productive.


“It should not remain just as it is. New methods and approaches should be thought out to enhance and expand its role.


"For example, it can play an active role in the cultural, values and humanitarian fields, expanding to the other cities of China where the Malay language or studies are offered," he said.










Najib made the proposal in his speech opening the four-day International Conference on Malay Studies 2014: Malaysia-China Relations at the Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU). The prime minister's visit coincides with the 40th anniversary of Malaysia-China ties.





On stepping up cooperation in publication and translation, Najib said efforts to step up cooperation in publication with China, particularly in the translation of major works for both countries by Malaysia's Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka should be enhanced.


The prime minister said that for forging collaboration in research, researchers from Malaysia could work with those from China in conducting studies and scrutinizing historical records and sources, including on Malaysia.


Many reputable and quality sources in China and its ancient civilization are rich in information on developments in the political, economic, social and international relations fields," he said.


Najib said intensifying the regular annual exchange of students and participants between Malaysia and China would require increasing the opportunities and incentives for the eligible students and participants from China to come to Malaysia to pursue education in the Malay language and literature.


“Their number should be increased from time to time," he said.


As such, he concluded, the new phase of Malaysia-China relations over the next 40 years could focus on, besides the economic, educational and technological fields, the socio-cultural, values and humanitarian fields.




Related links:


Najib holds bilateral meeting with Chinese counterpart

Najib believes Malaysia, China will remain partners for peace, prosperity