The Coast, a RM839mil waterfront landmark completing in 2029, blends Class-A offices, residences and hotel spaces with GreenRE Platinum standards.
THE global spotlight will shine on the Pearl of the Orient when the special “Penang Week” takes place at the ongoing World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan.
To be hosted by Penang Development Corporation (PDC) and running from Sept 21 to 26, it will showcase the state’s economic, industrial and investment highlights to a worldwide audience.
There will be various exhibits and programmes designed to position the state as a regional hub for high-tech manufacturing, sustainable development and tourism.
PDC chief executive officer Datuk Aziz Bakar said this would bring international visibility and attract more dynamic partnerships and investors.
Malaysia’s broader presence at the expo – which runs from April 13 to Oct 13 – is already generating significant trade and investment interest projected to be worth billions of ringgit.
“Penang Week will channel many of these opportunities towards the state and reinforce its standing as one of the country’s leading economic engines.
“This complements PDC’s bold RM5bil Strategic Plan for 2024-2028 which includes 15 high-impact infrastructure projects and expanding our industrial land bank by over 1,200ha,” Aziz shared.
As the state government’s development arm, PDC has been the driving force behind Penang’s innovation and transformation over the past five decades.
Its participation in the prestigious World Expo 2025 will ensure the state remains competitive and attractive to global investors. Here are some of the projects that PDC will showcase at the event.
The Coast
With a striking mix of purpose-built Class-A offices, corporate offices and hotel/SOHO units, this RM839mil waterfront development is a landmark in the making.
It is strategically located on a 2.08ha plot beside the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway and island-side landing of the Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah Bridge (or Second Penang Bridge).
Once it is completed in 2029, the structure’s iconic, wave-inspired facade is sure to make a memorable impression on all who visit the island. The GreenRE platinum-rated spaces within – including an MSC Cyber Centre – would cater to growing demand for state-of-the-art business facilities and premium accommodations.
And with close proximity to the Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone (FIZ) and Penang International Airport, The Coast is well-poised to be a gateway to future growth and progress.
Penang Linear Waterfront
Envisioned as a strategic complement to the Bayan Lepas FIZ, this ambitious RM9.86bil undertaking involves reclamation of some 191.7ha of land.
The proposed site will stretch from just off the Second Penang Bridge landing until the Queensbay roundabout. Of the total area, 76.79% or 131.7ha will be sellable mixed-use plots.
Besides significantly expanding Penang’s land bank, this would also attract high-impact investments. Among the planned components are a Global Business Services (GBS) district, transportation hub, serviced apartments, a business hotel and waterfront commercial areas.
The latter includes a lifestyle mall and an 8km seaside promenade for pedestrians and cyclists – which will be the longest public in the state.
Notably, 3% of the land or 5.1ha is also earmarked for greenery, adding much-needed nature to the island’s predominantly industrial southeastern corridor.
Batu Kawan Industrial Park 3 (BKIP 3)
This latest phase of PDC’s flagship industrial zone in Bandar Cassia in South Seberang Perai spans 251.7ha and builds on the successes of BKIP 1 and 2.
Designed to support high-value and technology-driven operations, this RM2.2bil development caters to strong demand from multinational corporations (MNCs), local large companies (LLCs) and small-medium enterprises (SMEs) in the electrical and electronics (E&E), medical devices, automotive, semiconductor, equipment, automation and logistics sectors.
Its strategic location near the Second Penang Bridge offers excellent connectivity to Penang Island, the Penang Port, Penang International Airport and North-South Expressway.
BKIP 3’s provision of modern utilities, digital connectivity and future-ready infrastructure also strengthens the state’s position as the “Silicon Valley of the East” and will further enhance its already thriving supply chain and ecosystem for global players and brands alike.
Penang Green Industrial Park (PGIP)
PDC’s pioneering initiative to create Malaysia’s first sustainable industrial hubs by promoting eco-friendly infrastructure, renewable energy integration and low-carbon operations.
Currently covering 10.6ha of BKIP 3 and 10.4ha of Penang Science Park South in Bukit Minyak, it emphasises the use of large-scale, on-site solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery energy storage systems (BESS) to maximise energy efficiency, and microgrid infrastructures to enhance resilience against outages or disruptions.
It also advocates advanced water and waste management systems to minimise footprint, as well as smart mobility solutions such as EV charging infrastructure for cleaner logistics.
By combining environmental stewardship with industrial advancement, PGIP reflects the state’s commitment to responsible development and aims to be a catalyst for clean manufacturing and next-generation, high-value investments.
Penang International Logistics Aeropark (PILA)
A state-of-the-art logistics and air cargo hub spearheaded by PDC and operating as a Free Commercial Zone (FCZ) at the Penang International Airport.
To be completed in phases between 2028 and 2030, the RM1bil and 42ha aeropark will offer a future-ready ecosystem complete with streamlined customs procedures and tech-enabled warehousing and cargo handling using ASRS and IoT systems, all aligned with ESG and green building principles.
With direct links to global hubs, PILA will be a critical enabler for Penang’s 350 MNCs and 3,000 SMEs, and transform the state into South-East Asia’s premier air cargo logistics powerhouse.
It is open for collaborations with global logistics players, cargo terminal operators (CTOs) and supply chain service providers seeking to scale-up operations efficiently.
An artist’s impression of Medi-City, the RM17.7bil healthcare and lifestyle hub in Bandar Cassia, set to elevate Penang as a premier regional medical tourism destination.
Medi-City
Tapping into the booming medical tourism market, the 95.4ha and RM17.7bil Medi-City at Bandar Cassia is positioned as a world-class healthcare and lifestyle hub.
To be completed in phases over 15 years, it will feature a specialist hospital, healthcare lifestyle mall, medical education institution, wellness centre, medical office, international school, retail and commercial centres as well as other mixed-used components.
Besides significantly boosting Penang’s GDP, the project is also expected to create tens of thousands of job opportunities across various sectors.
It would also reinforce the state’s position as a regional medical tourism destination – catering to an estimated population of 355 million across Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand.
An artist’s impression of GBS @ Technoplex, PDC’s RM500mil redevelopment in Bayan Lepas, with 16% pre-booked ahead of its November 2028 completion.
GBS @ Technoplex
PDC’s fifth GBS project will see a RM500mil redevelopment of the existing Technocentre building in Bayan Lepas into GBS @ Technoplex.
Offering some 37,478sq m of net lettable area over a nine-storey office block, the development is slated for completion by November 2028.
Even so, 16% of the building has already been pre-booked by interested parties, reflecting the strong demand and confidence in Penang’s potential.
Its spaces are ideally suited for digital global business services, IC design, research and development and engineering services firms. There is also a six-storey car park with 1,553 bays.
GBS @ Technoplex builds on the success of the established GBS @ Mayang and GBS @ Mahsuri in Bayan Baru, as well as GBS @ Tech Space in Bayan Lepas. The fourth project, GBS By The Sea in the same area, was launched earlier this year and is currently under construction.
Click here to find out more about PDC’s projects.
