EcoWorld, SD Guthrie and NS Corporation Ink Partnership to Develop Landmark Industrial Park

• 1,195 acres of land in Bukit Pelandok, Negeri Sembilan will be developed by the parties through a special purpose vehicle
• Project Estimated Gross Development Value is RM2.95 billion

Petaling Jaya, 18 April 2025 – A tripartite agreement was signed today to transform 1,195 acres of prime land in Bukit Pelandok, Negeri Sembilan, into an integrated industrial park. The alliance — uniting a strategically located land asset, renowned development expertise, and a forward-thinking masterplan — sets the wheels in motion for the development of Parcel C within Malaysia Vision Valley 2.0 (MVV 2.0), the primary economic corridor on the west of Peninsular Malaysia.

Eco World Development Group Berhad (EcoWorld), SD Guthrie Berhad (SD Guthrie) – formerly known as Sime Darby Plantation Berhad – and NS Corporation (NS Corp) will be strategic partners in this collaboration through Eco Business Park 7 Sdn Bhd (EBP 7), a special purpose vehicle established for this development. EcoWorld will hold 55% of EBP 7, while SD Guthrie Land Ventures Sdn Bhd, a wholly subsidiary of SD Guthrie will hold a 30% stake. The remaining 15% will be held by NS Corp.

The agreement was signed by:

1. DATUK MOHAMAD HELMY OTHMAN BASHA - Group Managing Director, SD Guthrie
2. DATO’ CHANG KHIM WAH - President & Chief Executive Officer, EcoWorld
3. NORAZHAR BIN MUSA - Chief Executive Officer, NS Corp

In the presence of distinguished witnesses:

1. YANG AMAT BERHORMAT DATO’ SERI UTAMA HAJI AMINUDDIN BIN HARUN - Chief Minister of Negeri Sembilan and Chairman, NS Corp
2. YANG BERHORMAT DATO’ MOHD ZAFIR BIN IBRAHIM - Negeri Sembilan State Secretary
3. TAN SRI NIK NORZRUL THANI NIK HASSAN THANI - Chairman, SD Guthrie
4. TAN SRI ABDUL RASHID BIN ABDUL MANAF – Founder, EcoWorld

EBP 7 will leverage on the synergies between the three entities – SD Guthrie’s strategically located land within the MVV 2.0, EcoWorld’s expertise and experience in successful industrial park developments, as well as NS Corp’s role as the state-appointed coordinator and custodian of the MVV 2.0 masterplan.

With its strategic position within MVV 2.0, the new industrial park carries an estimated Gross Development Value (GDV) of RM2.95 billion and forms part of a larger initiative to advance sustainable development in Negeri Sembilan. The project aims to attract local and foreign investments, create high-value jobs and drive the state’s economic growth agenda. MVV 2.0, launched in December 2018, comprises six parcels of development area (Parcel A - F) within approximately 380,000 acres across the Seremban and Port Dickson districts, and is designed to complement the growth of Greater Kuala Lumpur.

The industrial park, to be named Eco Business Park VII (EBP VII) is to be developed over nine years. It will feature industrial lots, ready-built factories, and commercial properties tailored to high-growth sectors, including those in the aerospace, electrical and electronics, logistics, and biotechnology industries. It will also offer access to a proposed Nilai-Labu Expressway that will connect the area to key infrastructure and logistic hubs such as Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Port Klang, Nilai and the wider west coast corridor via the PLUS Highway, offering connectivity and logistical advantages that are conducive for business growth.

“This partnership reflects the strong synergy between the public and private sectors in driving sustainable development in Negeri Sembilan. It is well aligned with the national agenda outlined under New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) 2030 and the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), thereby further reinforcing the State Government's commitment in strengthening investment landscape and economic growth, positioning Negeri Sembilan as a potential leading industrial hub in Malaysia,” said YAB Dato' Seri Aminuddin bin Harun, Chief Minister of Negeri Sembilan and Chairman, NS Corp.

“In the face of current global economic challenges and uncertainties in international trade, it is crucial that we strengthen our domestic economy. By focusing on high-value industries, we not only stand to attract quality investments, but also creating more high-skilled job opportunities in Malaysia, particularly in Negeri Sembilan,” he added.

SD Guthrie is one of the largest landowners in Malaysia, with extensive operations in the palm oil sector, parts of which are proximate to areas of high development value. Through strategic collaborations, SD Guthrie is unlocking the potential of this landbank across Malaysia. In Negeri Sembilan, it has 16 estates, three palm oil mills, and two biogas plants. In May 2024, SD Guthrie announced its entry into new business verticals – industrial parks and renewable energy, to create diversified and sustainable revenue streams.

“This collaboration is another pivotal step to unlock the significant value of our strategically located landbank,” said Datuk Helmy Othman Basha, SD Guthrie’s Group Managing Director. “In developing industrial parks as one of our new business verticals, SD Guthrie is continuing our approach of collaborating with more experienced partners in this sector to strengthen our own footprint. We are also delighted to be able to contribute to the long-term development of Negeri Sembilan and the national agenda.”

EcoWorld brings a wealth of development experience to the table with a diverse portfolio that includes residential, commercial, and industrial real estate. It has approximately 9,825 acres of total landbank across the Klang Valley, Penang, and Iskandar Malaysia, with an estimated GDV of RM90 billion. Of these, 2,415 acres are focused on industrial parks with four industrial parks in Iskandar Malaysia and one in Klang Valley. To date more than 1,400 local and international industrialists operate across EcoWorld’s Eco Business Parks. Demonstrating EcoWorld’s commitment to sustainability, nearly 90% of its projects have received green accreditation.

“At EcoWorld, we firmly believe that partnerships are the cornerstone of sustainable growth. It is through meaningful collaboration — bringing together complementary strengths, shared values, and a common vision — that we are able to do more, go further, and build better,” said Dato’ Chang Khim Wah, President & Chief Executive Officer of EcoWorld. “We look forward to working with SD Guthrie and NS Corp to develop EBP VII as a catalytic project that will help drive impactful infrastructure development, create meaningful employment opportunities, and unlock new avenues for investment and progress in Negeri Sembilan.

To download PDFs: 
⁠English
Bahasa Malaysia