‘TRX ATTRACTING GLOBAL INVESTORS’
They include HSBC, which will build its new HQ at the site, says TRX City CEO
THE Tun Razak Exchange (TRX), a 28.3ha development in the heart of the city here, has seen 80 per cent of the land on its north side commercialised, or under negotiations.
TRX City Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Azmar Talib said the company was in advanced talks with investors, some of them among the world’s most recognisable names in banking and finance.
“Today, we have on board with us, world-class investors,” he said when hosting several heads of mission at the project site here yesterday.
HSBC, one of the world’s largest banks, will invest US$250 million (RM1.1 billion) to build its new Malaysian headquarters there.
“This is significant for us as HSBC was also one of the early believers in the Canary Wharf (in London) and Dubai International Financial Centre, our inspiration.
“We also have Lendlease, which will develop Lifestyle Quarters; Mulia International Group, which is building Signature Tower and Veolian, the concessionaire for our wastewater recycling plant.”
He said once TRX was open, the TRX Station would be the busiest station, with two lines catering up to 25,000 passengers every hour.
InvestKL CEO Datuk Zainal Amanshah said Malaysia continued to attract investors. This was demonstrated by the presence of 13 ambassadors, as well as 21 representatives, at
TRX.
“There is still interest in investing in this country. Investors’ confidence still exists as the country’s fundamentals remain strong.
“This confidence is demonstrated right here by the ambassadors, who are visiting the TRX site today (yesterday). These are dignitaries from the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, New Zealand, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, China and Japan.”
He said the visit was for the ambassadors to experience the worldclass facilities that Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) lines and TRX offerred.
Zainal said most of these countries were already involved in the MRT and light rail transit projects.
InvestKL is tasked by the government with attracting 100 of the world’s largest multinationals to invest in the Greater Kuala Lumpur area by 2020.
As such, Zainal has been in discussion to bring in more foreign investment to TRX.
“Our strategic position in Asean and multilingual talent remain attractive factors for investors to come here. It has been challenging for the oil and gas sector, but we have seen at least seven companies from the sector moving here in the last 12 months.
“Asean is a big market, so you do see a fast-moving supply chain with companies moving their goods.”
Zainal said there had been talk of making TRX a digital hub, but nothing had materialised yet. Bernama