Property Hunter Magazine Property Hunter Magazine Issue 55 - June 2014 | Page 44

/// Hot Topic INVESTMENT UPDATE 2006 - OCTOBER 2013 /// HOT TOPIC How Sustainable is Iskandar Malaysia? J ohor is predicted to be the richest state in the country supported by investments brought upon via Iskandar Malaysia by 2025. Due to high potential in the area, an immense amount of promotion activities by the Malaysian government has been conducted to promote this project to Malaysians. The Johor gross domestic product (GDP) in 2005 was recorded at USD20 billion is expected to increase up to USD93 billion in 2025 thanks to the Iskandar Malaysia project with a GDP per capita growth from USD14,790 in 2005 to USD31,000 in 2025. It is also set to push employment rate from 0.610 million in 2005 to 1.428 million by 2025. Even areas such as Nusajaya are slated to be a key driver of the Iskandar Malaysia project and the largest fully integrated urban development in Southeast Asia. Iskandar consists of commercial and residential developments with a multitude of niche business endeavors. Three times the size of Singapore, Iskandar is set to be a modern metropolis buzzing with economic activity, a conglomeration of various exciting growth sectors, including nine key economic clusters: financial advisory and consulting, creative industries, logistics, leisure and tourism, education, health care, electrical and electronics, petrochemical and oleo-chemical, food and agro-processing. Among the key areas that are being developed at Iskandar includes government sector (Kota Iskandar), high-end living (Puteri Harbor), industrial parks (SiLC Nusajaya), health (Afiat Healthpark), education (EduCity Iskandar Malaysia), mixed used development (Medini Iskandar Malaysia), recreation (Legoland) as well as film production (Pinewood Studios). Leveraging on Proximity to Singapore To further add value to Iskandar, the KL–Singapore high speed railway is set to have a station located at the new township to increase the human traffic flow which will ultimately boost the spending in Iskandar. Iskandar is overflowing with potential that is already benefiting the early movers there. The cost advantage as compared to Singapore has lured a multitude of investors from the small island nation and the added tax incentive is set to make Johor grow faster than Penang. It is currently the only township that is implementing the modern metropolis concept the moment you step in the area. Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Iskandar Malaysia is a strategic place to boost Malaysia’s competitiveness in the global market Cumulative Committed Investment by Sector INVESTMENT UPDATES Finance 0.60 Education 1.56 Creative 0.40 Cummulative Committed Investment Year-On-Year 140.00 Utilities 12.64 129.42 130.00 8.31 120.00 106.31 110.00 7.31 100.00 90.00 80.00 55.56 60.00 41.76 50.00 40.00 11.30 8.17 5.05 5.80 7.10 1.00 5.80 5.50 6.28 Manufacturing 19.98 9.11 Industrial Property 6.20 Retail Property 9.45 45.68 23.65 2009 31.22 2011 26.92 2010 Others Emerging Technology 1.03 Manufacturing 45.68 14.45 2008 2007 41.78 28.79 16.52 PropertiesG overnmentC Residential Property 33.66 Government 8.31 35.14 27.30 21.83 6.28 21.70 11.90 2006 0.00 6.83 25.80 30.00 10.00 6.28 69.48 70.00 20.00 33.66 84.78 35.07 2012 2013 (OCT) Promoted ommitted Investment Non-Promoted Sector : Government 8.31 Industrial 6.20 4% Utilities 10% 2% Retail 7% 2% Government 6% 1% Industrial 5% Creative/Finan