Greetings,

Iskandar Malaysia, a designated economic development area in South
Johor, is expected to draw investors from the US and other Asia
Pacific countries.

Hanafiah Mansor, the Head for Marketing and Business Development in
Iskandar Investment Bhd (IIB), said new investments into the area
would be cluster-driven and the focus would be on specific sources of
foreign direct investment (FDI), where for example US companies would
be targeted to invest in the information technology sector, while for
the development and management of hotels, resorts and other leisure
activities, IIB would look to other countries in the Asia Pacific.

Hanafiah was speaking during a familiarisation trip for the media to
Iskandar Malaysia per NST. The new investments are expected to be
channeled to the 920-hectare Medini (previously known as Node 1), the
key development area for Iskandar Malaysia.

Medini, which is expected to be developed over the next 15 to 20
years with gross development value of some RM68.8 billion, would
comprise a financial district; logistics business centre; a creative
centre; cultural and heritage centre; golf village; entertainment
centre; retail centre; education centre with government and
international schools; a private hospital complex; resorts; and fruit
and vegetable farming.
Mubadala Development Co, the investment unit of Abu Dhabi, will lead
a consortium- Global Capital Sdn Bhd to undertake the development of
Medini. Meanwhile, IIB, which is majority-owned by Khazanah Nasional
Bhd, holds a 30 % stake in Global Capital. According to Hanafiah a
blueprint for the area is currently being finalized for submission to
the Investment Regional Development Authority (IRDA) by December. He
expects an approval by the first quarter of 2009, following which
construction is expected to commence in the second half of next year.

IIB is positioning to build the Medini brand and promote Iskandar
Malaysia worldwide. Next month, IIB is set to promote Medini at
CityScape, an annual international property investment and
development event in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.

At the same time, IIB is holding talks with local developers, who are
yet to invest in Iskandar Malaysia, to build residential and
commercial properties within its 4,432 ha of land.

Local developer which have set foot in Iskandar Malaysia include
Gamuda, Pelangi, Johor Corp, UEM Land, SP Setia, Melati Ehsan
Holdings, Bandar Raya Development, Uda and Mulpha.
Meawhile, Millennium Development International, Muba-dala Real Estate
& Hospitality, Aldar Properties and Kuwait Finance House from the
Arab States have provided seed capital for land and infrastructure
development of up to RM4.1 billion.

Iskandar Malaysia, which has an area three times the size of
Singapore, would be Malaysia''''s largest economic zone. The
development of the area is expected to generate some 800,000 jobs and
attract RM344 billion in investments over 25 years.

One of DK Malaysia's main goals is to promote investment, business
opportunities, trade, travel and tourism in Malaysia and to assist
MIDA, MITI, MATRADE and Tourism Malaysia achieve their goals and
objectives. I look forward to hearing from all of you and have a
great day.

Remember, Now is a good time to Visit Malaysia!

All the best,

Fred Plimley
President - DK Malaysia Development, LLC
Host/Moderator - Linkedin Malaysia
f.plimley@...
http://www.linkedin.com/in/fredplimley
(951) 243-3602
(909) 214-8783
(+44) 020 7193 7317
Skype ID: fredplimley