IIB Ventures, Common Ground to develop RM2.5 million co-working space in Johor

JOHOR BAHRU: Iskandar Investment Bhd (IIB) will collaborate with Common Ground Works Sdn Bhd to build a RM2.5 million co-working space in Johor.

In a statement, IIB said a collaborative agreement had been signed between its subsidiary IIB Ventures Sdn Bhd and Common Ground Works Sdn Bhd to develop and operate the co-working space, called Common Ground Iskandar Space (CGIS), at Medini, Iskandar Puteri, which is Johor’s digital hub.

The CGIS is expected to be ready in January 2022, forming part of IIB’s initiatives towards building a “Digitech” community, providing a landing pad for digital start-up companies and small and medium enterprises (SMEs), said IIB, which is committed to steering economic and environmentally sustainable growth in Iskandar Malaysia.

IIB president and chief executive officer Datuk Khairil Anwar Ahmad said the CGIS would be the first co-working space in Johor to be operated by Common Ground.

“This latest initiative marks another milestone for IIB to develop and implement a Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR4.0)based technology ecosystem in support of Johor’s Vision 2030 and digital aspiration, as well as the nation’s MyDigital Blueprint.

“The CGIS forms part of the Iskandar New Economic Experience and Talent (NEXT) platform, through which IIB has paved the direction to position Iskandar Puteri as the pulse and centre of the digital economy and talent development,” he said.

Khairil Anwar also pointed out that the establishment of CGIS would also provide networking opportunities, nationwide and at regional levels in Southeast Asia, for the digital communities in Johor, helping to accelerate their business growth with more than 100 businesses and social events to be developed at CGIS in the next 12 months.

He said this initiative creates the necessary infrastructure and conducive ecosystem to grow the digital economy and further build talent.

Meanwhile, Common Ground Co-founder Juhn Teo said the company would be responsible for curating the CGIS, bringing its award-winning design, business and marketing strategy to the space owned by IIB.

“We are excited to be working with IIB on this newest Common Ground space, our first in Johor.

“Our driving mission for CGIS is to encourage the spirit of entrepreneurship in Johor and the region, supporting local start-ups and SMEs,” he said.