Property Hunter Magazine Property Hunter Magazine Issue 54 - May 2014 | Page 74

52  53 | Contributor /// Banking and Investment News $₤ ¥ € BANKING & INVESTMENT NEWS The banking and investment industry has a crucial role to play when it comes to property. Read about the most recent news and trends in this trade Malaysia, a Retail Property Goldmine “The government has been very proactive in Malaysia, particularly in the Johor Bahru region. The infrastructure investment goes in and you can see there’s going to be a big upsurge in people and the dynamics of the area will change and that will have a hugely beneficial effect on retail,” said David Raven, Lead Director for Retail Investments at the property firm. Meanwhile, JLL’s report reveals that Asian shopping malls are the latest ‘must have’ for investors, who are eyeing the region’s robust consumer spending driven by rapid urbanisation. Despite fears over the US Federal Reserve tapering and China’s slower than expected GDP growth, retail investment in Asia soared by 41 percent year-on-year to US$21.17 billion (RM69.44 billion) in 2013. Malaysia emerged as retail property hot spot in 2013 among developing markets in the region, according to report by Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL). 74 www.PropertyHunter.com.my In particular, retail cum commercial projects were very sought-after last year. “The Knightsbridge mall on Singapore’s Orchard Road is a good example of this. It sold to Bright Ruby Re