Malaysian conglomerate IJM Corporation will make its first foray into the industrial market by developing a 260-hectare business park and logistics centre near the port of Kuantan on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The company, which has operations in construction, real estate and concrete pipe manufacturing, will form a joint venture with China Harbour Engineering Company, a subsidiary of China Communications Construction.

China Harbour, the China-Malaysia Kuantan International Logistics Park, holds 51% of the shares, while the remaining 49% is shared equally by IJM subsidiary Asas Panorama (60%) and another Chinese company, Guangxi Beibu Gulf International Port Group (40%).

Lee Chun Fai, Deputy CEO of IJM, commented that this is a milestone for us as we begin a strategic partnership with CHEC to design, develop and operate MCKILP.

I am excited about the opportunities MCKILP will bring to ECER. Its development is very timely and will provide critical infrastructure and enhance the region's logistics and supply chain capabilities. Together with MCKIP1 and 2, we envision MCKILP as a complement to the industrial ecosystem, fostering more investment in the region. The logistics segment will provide intermodal connections between containers arriving at Kuantan Port, the national road system, the airport and the East Coast Rail Link. The $10.6 billion ECRL, also built by China Communications, will link Port Klang in the Straits of Malacca and Kota Bharu in the northeastern part of the peninsula.Editor/XingWentao