This article first appeared in City & Country, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on March 13, 2023 - March 19, 2023

Known as an integrated industrial space solutions provider, AME Elite Consortium Bhd has more than 25 years of experience in industrial development and construction. Today, the company offers services and solutions encompassing the design and construction of customised large manufacturing plants, the development of sustainable industrial parks, sale and leasing of industrial factory units, as well as leasing and management of workers’ accommodation within its industrial parks.

According to AME, the general perception of industrial developments is that they are messy and dirty. In order to change this perception and improve the surroundings of these developments, AME began to develop modern and sustainable industrial parks under the i-Park brand.

Launched in 2011, the first two i-Park developments, both freehold, are i-Park @ SILC, which is spread across a 12.31-acre tract with a gross development value (GDV) of RM80 million, and the 205.24-acre i-Park @ Indahpura, which has a GDV of RM1.176 billion.

In 2017, AME launched i-Park @ Senai Airport City, which is situated on a 191.4-acre freehold parcel and has a GDV of RM1.369 billion. i-Park @ Senai Airport City was the first industrial development to be built based on an “industrial resort” concept in Malaysia. This new generation of industrial properties aims to provide a balance between practical workspaces and enhanced facilities that ensure the overall well-being of the workers.

All three i-Parks are located within Iskandar Malaysia (formerly known as Iskandar Development Region and South Johor Economic Region in Johor).

Within the industrial parks, AME offers ready-built or flexible, tailor-made factories that are fully customisable to suit the specifications of local and international corporations. These factories have built-ups of 30,000 to 100,000 sq ft for the standard units, while the larger units and custom-built factories are from 200,000 sq ft. AME provides its customers with the option to either lease or purchase these units. The company is also able to provide fast-speed delivery with a shortened completion timeline (within six to 12 months), subject to customer requirements.

All factories in the i-Parks are designed as green buildings. For instance, AME explains that they have high solar reflective index (SRI) metal roofs and reflective glass that help reduce heat transfer and maintain the building’s indoor temperature.

Other than that, translucent sheets in the production area allow natural lighting into the space and the presence of skylights helps reduce energy and lighting consumption during the day. A rainwater harvesting system is also installed in every factory unit to recycle and reuse the rainwater to water plants and flush toilets.

These developments are also fully gated and guarded with 24-hour security, CCTV surveillance and boom gates with an access card system. According to AME, the i-Parks have security checkpoints to monitor the ingress and egress of visitors. Some of the detached factories come with built-in guardhouses for added security.

In terms of network connectivity, AME says all i-Parks are equipped with high-speed broadband that uses fibre optic technology. The i-Parks also offer clubhouse facilities through the i-Privilege Club, which gives workers access to indoor gyms, multifunctional halls and outdoor amphitheatres. To encourage healthier lifestyles and ensure ease of mobility, the developments provide jogging and cycling lanes as well as covered pedestrian walkways.

As a part of the company’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) efforts, all i-Parks offer workers’ accommodation named i-Stay. These accommodation facilities comply with the standards set by the Jabatan Tenaga Kerja Semenanjung Malaysia (JTKSM) and the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) coalition, AME says. The workers’ accommodation in all three i-Parks total 6,407 beds. Facilities and amenities provided include a biometric security access system, digital ATM via SOCASH Solutions, gym, first aid room, table tennis equipment, automated launderette, canteen, grocery stores and covered pedestrian walkways that link to workspaces.

AME’s latest development is i-TechValley @ SILC, which will be developed by the group’s wholly-owned subsidiaries Pentagon Land Sdn Bhd and Greenhill SILC Sdn Bhd. Located in the economic zone of Iskandar Puteri in Johor, i-TechValley @ SILC will also be in close proximity to Tuas and other parts of Singapore.

With a GDV of RM1.46 billion, the 170-acre development will offer 1½-storey detached factories with built-ups of 30,000 to 100,000 sq ft, and 200,000 sq ft and above for larger custom-built units. Apart from the factory units, i-TechValley will also have other components such as a pharmaceutical and medical hub, a workers’ accommodation with around 2,688 beds and a park with outdoor gym facilities.

AME says the group has already garnered initial investment from notable multinational companies, including two pharmaceutical giants from the US, as well as other domestic companies and small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

This will position i-Tech­Valley as a magnet to attract foreign direct investments (FDIs), AME explains, adding that the development is also in line with the state government’s plan to develop more industrial projects in Johor to improve its economic standing and create more job opportunities.

To date, the company has achieved a take-up rate of 71% across its i-Park and i-TechValley developments. AME also says that these developments have created more than 11,000 jobs for blue- and white-collar workers in Iskandar Malaysia.

AME’s i-Park and i-TechValley developments have drawn investments from both local and multinational corporations from countries such as China, Singapore, Australia, Japan, the UK, the US, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Denmark and Switzerland. These corporations belong to a variety of sectors, including pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing, warehousing, electrical and electronics manufacturing, research and development, plastic injection moulding and precision engineering.

All the i-Park and i-TechValley developments are located within Iskandar Malaysia, which is surrounded by well-established townships. The developments have easy access to ports, including the Port of Tanjung Pelepas, Tanjung Langsat Port and Jurong Port, as well as airports such as the Senai International Airport and the Singapore Changi Airport. They are also connected to major highways such as the North-South Expressway and the Second Link Expressway.

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