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Designed to compete with the best venues in South East Asia, The Penang Waterfront Convention Centre (PWCC) aims to revive Penang as a business tourism destination.

With developers IJM Land Berhad and operators Suntec Penang Convention & Exhibition Services officially signing the agreement to develop the PWCC at the end of last week, construction work on the US$113 million waterfront venue will begin next year and it is expected to be completed by 2017.

The PWCC is part of the US$1.6 billion 'The Light' commercial precinct that will also include hotels, malls, retail outlets and a marina built on reclaimed land space.

Under the partnership agreement, Suntec will be involved in the designing, marketing and operational management of PWCC, which has been by Larry Oltmanns, Design Director and Chief Executive of Vx3, the London-based architectural firm that specialises in large-scale urban developments and convention centres.

Vx3's portfolio includes landmarks such as NATO headquarters in Brussels and the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre while the practice is currently working on convention centres in Singapore, Adelaide and Jakarta.

The centrepiece of the convention centre will be a 10,000 metre2 column-free multi-purpose hall that can be subdivided or used as a single space for exhibitions, conventions, corporate events, and private functions. The venue will also be easily convertible into a 9,000-seat arena for entertainment events.

Introducing the partnership that will develop the venue, IJM Corporation Managing Director and Chief Executive IJM Corporation Dato' Soam Heng Choon explained "we are confident that this partnership will bring strong commercial value to the surrounding economic network based on Suntec Penang's client-focused, business driven approach and understanding of global industry trends to deliver strong growth, world-class service quality and operational excellence to PWCC.

"IJM Land is proud to have Suntec Penang aboard in making PWCC a world-class convention destination and with the right foundation in place, 'The Light' is able to merge societies imperative in transforming Penang into an international city.

"IJM Land constantly scales new challenges to add value to our developments and being the first developer in the region to incorporate a convention centre, retail malls, hotels and a business district on a 152-acre waterfront development with Green Building Index certification is no mean feat."

Suntec International Chief Executive Arun Madhok added "we are delighted to collaborate with IJM Land on the design and conceptualisation of the iconic Penang Waterfront Convention Centre and see it as a big step in the ongoing development of the MICE industry in Penang.

"With the right mix of convention and exhibition activities, Penang has enormous potential to become one of the MICE hubs of Malaysia.

"We are confident that with Suntec Penang's market knowledge, experience and expertise, together with our partner IJM Land, PWCC will become the focal point for business delegates both regionally and internationally as well as creating a synergistic relationship with its upcoming surrounding businesses such as retail shops, F&B outlets and world-class hotels.

"Together, Suntec International and IJM Land are determined to establish the Penang Waterfront Convention Centre as a world-class MICE venue."

IJM Land Berhad is the listed property development arm of IJM Corporation Berhad and stands as one of Malaysia's leading property developers with a presence in prominent locations in Penang, Klang Valley, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Johor, Sarawak and Sabah. IJM Land is a reputable developer of wide-ranging property products including integrated developments, townships, residential projects, offices, retail and recreational facilities.

Suntec Penang Convention & Exhibition Services Sdn. Bhd (Suntec Penang) is incorporated in Malaysia and is a subsidiary of Suntec International, a member of ARA Asset Management Limited, headquartered in Singapore. Suntec Penang provides a wide-ranging portfolio of services including, but not limited to consultancy services, pre-opening and post-opening services in connection with the meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) industry in Penang.

For more information go to www.ijm.com

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