OSAKA, JAPAN: Eco World Development Group Berhad (EcoWorld) yesterday exchanged two Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with The Musashino Bank, Ltd. (Musashino Bank) and Bugin Regional Economic Research Institute Co., Ltd. (Bugin Institute), respectively. The exchanges, held at the Malaysia Pavilion at EXPO 2025 Osaka, were witnessed by Yang Amat Berhormat Dato’ Seri Utama Haji Aminuddin bin Harun, Menteri Besar of Negeri Sembilan.

The MOUs establish a collaborative framework to channel targeted Japanese small and medium enterprises (SMEs) into Eco Business Park VII (EBP VII) in Negeri Sembilan. The ceremony was attended by Dato’ Chang Khim Wah, President & Chief Executive Officer, EcoWorld; Mr Onishi Koichiro, Senior Managing Director of Bugin Institute, who represented both Musashino Bank and Bugin Institute.

Under these MOUs, EcoWorld will work with Musashino Bank to leverage its strong financial networks and long-standing relationships with Japanese SME industrialists, positioning the Bank as a key facilitator for Japanese SMEs seeking business expansion opportunities into Malaysia. Bugin Institute, the research and consulting arm of Musashino Bank, supports the collaboration through business research, seminars and advisory programmes to help Japanese enterprises better understand Malaysia’s industrial landscape. The collaboration will focus on high-potential sectors including food processing, medical technology, logistics, aerospace support industries and electrical and electronics.

“We are honoured to have the opportunity to work with Musashino Bank and Bugin Institute to promote our latest industrial park to their clients. EBP VII, which is strategically situated within Malaysia Vision Valley 2.0, is uniquely positioned to be able to support their clients’ international growth aspirations. Its proximity to the Kuala Lumpur International airport and accessibility to major highways also offers superior connectivity, enabling industrialists to easily plug into Malaysia’s local and regional supply chains. By exchanging these MOUs today, we aim to create a clear landing path for Japanese SMEs to invest and grow in Malaysia,” said Chang.

“With practical market-entry support, financing availability and a host of investor-ready solutions to accelerate their commencement of business on the ground at EBP VII, this collaboration is designed to attract quality investments, facilitate technology transfer and create long-term opportunities for the benefit of all parties involved,” he added.

Slated for its maiden launch by the end of 2025, EBP VII is set to transform 1,195 acres of land in Bukit Pelandok, Negeri Sembilan into an integrated, investment-ready industrial park with an estimated gross development value of RM2.95 billion.

EBP VII is developed through Eco Business Park 7 Sdn Bhd, a special-purpose vehicle formed by EcoWorld (55%), SD Guthrie Berhad (30%) and NS Corporation (15%).