During the groundbreaking ceremony, Sunway and Singapore-based real estate group Equalbase announced plans for 103°, a sustainable Free Commercial Zone (FCZ) development for the logistics industry in Johor Baru.
Spanning 55 hectares (135 acres), 103° Equalbase Sunway (103°) will be the first fully carbon-neutral free commercial zone, and will have integrated warehouses equipped with rooftop solar panels to generate electricity.
As part of its sustainability commitment, 103° will aim to attain Malaysia’s Green Building Index Gold rating and was named after the geographic coordinates of Johor at a longitude of 103° east of the prime meridian.
The RM8bil investment highlights the significant growth projected over a span of 10 years, with the first phase scheduled for completion by 2025.
The ceremony held in Sunway City Iskandar Puteri was attended by Johor Menteri Besar and both Sunway and Equalbase Group officials, showing their commitment to sustainable building. Sunway Group founder and chairman Tan Sri Dr Jeffrey Cheah expressed his commitment to making Sunway City Iskandar Puteri the focus of Malaysia’s southern development corridor, while Equalbase chief executive officer Nicholas Bischoff emphasized the importance of collaboration and shared achievements in sustainable development.
The development is expected to cater to a diverse range of industries in the region, including fast moving consumer goods, retail, e-commerce, automotive, pharmaceutical, and technology, and is positioned as a key hub for sustainable space.
Sunway City Iskandar Puteri, where 103° will be located, is designed as a green and open space with a GDI of more than RM30bil across 809.4 hectares (2,000 acres) of land, and is the only green building index (GBI) silver-certified township in Johor. It is also located near the Malaysia-Singapore Second Link via the Coastal Highway Southern Link (CHSL), featuring six precincts in harmony with nature.
Established in 1974, Sunway Group is one of South-East Asia’s largest conglomerates with core interests in real estate, construction, education, and healthcare, while Equalbase provides sustainable commercial and industrial logistics facilities and fosters collaborative partnerships to drive community development. The partnership between Sunway and Equalbase aims to create a sustainable, economically advanced state in Malaysia.
