PDT, SD Guthrie and EcoWorld Form JV to Develop Eco Business Park 8 in Kulai, Johor

Permodalan Darul Ta’zim (PDT), SD Guthrie Land Ventures (SDGLV) and Eco World Development Group Bhd have entered into a strategic partnership to launch Eco Business Park 8, a major integrated industrial development in Mukim Kulai, Johor. The collaboration was formalised through a Subscription and Shareholders’ Agreement, establishing a joint venture company — Eco Business Park 8 Sdn Bhd — to acquire and develop the 935.24-acre freehold tract.

Under the equity arrangement, EcoWorld will hold a 65% stake, SDGLV will own 25%, and the remaining 10% will be held by PDT, the Johor state investment arm responsible for driving high-value economic initiatives.

A High-Tech Industrial Hub with RM3.75 Billion GDV

Eco Business Park 8 is planned as an 8- to 10-year industrial development featuring industrial lots, ready-built facilities, and a supporting commercial ecosystem. With an estimated gross development value of RM3.75 billion, the project is targeted at technology-driven sectors, including:

• High-tech and AI-aligned supply chains

• Advanced electrical and electronics

• Biotechnology and medical technologies

• Food technology and processing

• Logistics and integrated services

EcoWorld will lead the technical and development management through its subsidiary Eco World Project Management Sdn Bhd, leveraging its experience in green, digital-ready industrial estates. Guthrie, meanwhile, continues to unlock value from its nationwide landbank through its growing industrial-park portfolio.

Strategic Location Within the JS–SEZ Corridor

The development is strategically positioned within the Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS–SEZ), offering proximity to Senai International Airport and access to the North–South Expressway. This location is expected to provide strong investor appeal, particularly for multinational corporations tapping into JS-SEZ incentives.

Today’s signing marks EcoWorld’s second partnership with Guthrie, following the earlier joint venture to develop Eco Business Park 7 in Malaysia Vision Valley 2.0, Negeri Sembilan.

Leaders Emphasise Industrial Growth and Regional Competitiveness

Datuk Ramlee A Rahman, president and group CEO of PDT, said the project aims to anchor a high-tech industrial ecosystem capable of attracting global players. He described Eco Business Park 8 as one of the flagship opportunities envisioned under the JS–SEZ initiative.

Guthrie’s group managing director Datuk Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha added that the company’s extensive landbank puts it in a strong position to grow its industrial-development segment, noting the partnership with EcoWorld as a catalyst for accelerating expansion in this high-potential vertical.

EcoWorld president and CEO Datuk Chang Khim Wah said the collaboration brings together complementary strengths to meet rising demand from advanced manufacturing firms. He expressed confidence that Eco Business Park 8’s connectivity and strategic positioning would draw quality investors and reinforce Johor’s role as a regional industrial hub.

Relevance to Klang Valley Industrial Investors

For investors monitoring industrial-property trends — especially in industrial land in Selangor, industrial property in the Subang area, factory markets in Puchong, office space in Bukit Jalil, and commercial property in KL — the project underscores the growing importance of high-tech industrial ecosystems in Malaysia. Developments like Eco Business Park 8 often influence wider industrial-corridor activity nationwide, including spillover effects into the Klang Valley’s logistics and manufacturing property demand.