Dato’ Wan, an astute figure behind UEM Land – master developer of Nusajaya.

Dato' Wan Exclusive

During our unraveling of the Iskandar Malaysia theorem in our Special November - December issue of Home Finder, we had the chance to ask Dato' Wan Abdullah Wan Ismail, Managing Director and Chief Execute Officer of UEM Land Bhd his views on Nusajaya - Iskandar's star region in the eyes of many.

With UEM Land being the master developer in this area, Dato' Wan was the perfect candidate to answer our questions. 

Home Finder: In developing the Nusajaya master plan, what were the main focuses or critical points to make it a success?

Dato' Wan: Nusajaya was conceptualized to draw together the best in practices, standards and human capital. UEM Land Bhd is building a modern city with a focus on enhancing the economy and enriching lives in seven key sectors - government, residential, commercial, leisure, industrial, health and wellness as well as education.

 UEM Land has also put in place Nusajaya's signature developments that will act as key drivers to create a robust economic hub and employment opportunities that are necessary for sustained growth. This makes an attractive investment proposition not only for Malaysians, but also for foreign investors because of its ideal location and excellent connectivity.

HF: How is Nusajaya unique and what are these catalytic projects?

Dato' Wan: It's a metropolis in the making. 24,000 acres of contiguous development-ready land is an ideal launch pad from where entrepreneurs and investors can tap an Asian consumer market of more than three billion people, all within a six-hour flight radius of the city. Spearheading the fulfillment of Nusajaya's vision are eight signature developments; which includes:

• Puteri Harbour - the international award-winning urban integrated waterfront and marina development.
• Kota Iskandar - the picturesque Johor state government new administrative center.
• Medini Iskandar Malaysia - the 2,300-acre integrated city development comprising four components namely leisure and lifestyle (including Legoland Malaysia), Medini Business, Medini Central and Medini South.
• EduCity - hosts local and international educational institutions as well as three purpose-built university campuses equipped with accommodation and recreational facilities.
• Southern Industrial and Logistics Clusters (SiLC) - the ‘green' and ‘clean' managed industrial park which houses BioXcell, Malaysia's first dedicated biotechnology park.
• Afiat Healthpark - a comprehensive medical park offering modern, traditional, complementary medicine and wellness.
• International Destination Resort - a complete destination resort anchored by an international standard themed park and other themed attractions.
• Nusajaya Residences - Offering award-winning residential developments with its own unique features to appeal to the discerning needs of its target audience, and further complemented by modern amenities, safety and security features, comprehensive infrastructure, business opportunities and a pleasant environment.

UEM Land's residential offerings include East Ledang, luxury garden residences; Horizon Hills, golf residential development; Nusa Idaman, hillside residences and Nusa Bayu high quality affordable homes.

HF: With all these developments taking shape, how does Singapore play a part in the overall success of Nusajaya? And in turn, how does Nusajaya affect Singapore?

Dato' Wan: The story of Singapore's economic boom is one of the success stories of the 20th century. The Island Republic has handled its limited resources well and created a robust economy that is still posting impressive growth rates. However, the reality of the situation is that Singapore is a country constrained by its physical size; this issue will become even more pressing as it engineers its population growth for economic reasons.

Nusajaya provides the perfect solution to Singapore's looming issues by providing what it needs most: space, accessibility and a lower cost of living and doing business. Despite concerns that Nusajaya would compete with Singapore, it is when the two harmonize and work together that the greatest benefits are to be gained.