KUALA LUMPUR: Eco World Development Group Berhad [EcoWorld] is confident of achieving its RM3 billion sales target for FY2015 ending 31 October. President & CEO Dato’ Chang Khim Wah said the Group’s sales momentum continues to be strong and pre-sales registration very high.

Speaking at Invest Malaysia 2015, Chang shared that the Group had achieved cumulative sales of RM3.8 billion over the last 16 months. This includes RM621 million sales achieved in the first four months of FY2015.

The strong sales numbers were contributed by the Group’s projects in Iskandar Malaysia – namely Eco Botanic, Eco Spring & Eco Summer and Eco Business Park I. In the Klang Valley, the Group’s two projects of Eco Sky and Eco Majestic also continued to perform well.

“We are grateful for the strong support that we have received at all our sales launches and would like to thank our customers for their belief in us,” said Chang adding that the Group has now set up eight sales galleries to offer visitors a glimpse of the developer’s commitment in creating world-class eco living in all its developments.

The Group has three sales galleries in Iskandar Malaysia two of which are on site – Eco Botanic in Nusajaya and Eco Spring & Eco Summer in Tebrau while the third is in Tropika Welcome Centre in Tebrau.

In the Klang Valley, the EcoWorld Gallery @ Eco Sky reopened on 6 Feb with a new container concept building. A total of 27 used shipping containers were re-used to create a modern sales gallery and show unit.

Chang explained that the developer was always pushing the bar in finding innovative ways to reduce its carbon footprint and this container concept was just one of them. “The idea is not new but I believe we have successfully improved upon it and it has worked out well for us,” he added.

Meanwhile, the EcoWorld Gallery @ Eco Majestic boasts an impressive 30,000 sq ft “Straits Era” inspired sales gallery and office space. Opened in November last year, the show village spans 30.3-acres and is the crown jewel of the RM11.14 billion development situated in the booming Semenyih locale.

The show village consists of the EcoWorld Gallery, a 5.37-acre Swan Lake and a collection of 10 different show houses luxuriously spread across 1.19acres. Most recently, Eco Majestic won the ILAM (Institute of Landscape Architects Malaysia) Honour Award in the Developer’s Category for its entry, Swan Lake @ Eco Majestic.

“EcoWorld always aims to set a high standard for townships and all our other development projects. To this end, landscape design is one of the essential components in every master plan. This recognition will be a great incentive for us to keep on producing fresh new designs in the future,” said Chang.

“We believe that by establishing a strong brand identity through innovative design, excellent product quality and services, we have succeeded in differentiating ourselves and making a good first impression on customers,” he added.

Commenting on the strong demand for its products, Chang said the Group was also highly selective in acquiring landbank to ensure that it is in the correct market segments in the right locations. Citing its two residential projects of Eco Botanic and Eco Spring & Eco Summer in Iskandar Malaysia, Chang said Eco Botanic appealed to Malaysian professionals and businessmen working in Malaysia and Singapore because of its accessibility, amenities and proximity to numerous educational institutions while Eco Spring & Eco Summer appealed to the upgrader market because of its location in highly a matured neighbourhood.

“We have also invested heavily on improving infrastructure and amenities in the surrounding areas where our projects are located,” said Chang. On 25 March, the developer completed its Red Carpet Bridge in Eco Majestic which forms part of a new link road from the Semenyih Toll (Exit 2102). This will shorten travelling time considerably for those coming to Eco Majestic, avoiding much of the heavy traffic on Jalan Semenyih. The new link road is scheduled for completion by June 2015.

The developer is also working hard on opening the dedicated LEKAS-Eco Majestic Interchange that is expected to complete in the second quarter of 2016 which will lead straight into the township’s commercial precinct.

On 1 April, EcoWorld signed a memorandum of agreement with Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) to adopt a public park adjacent to its Eco Sky project in Taman Wahyu, Jalan Ipoh. Under the adoption agreement, the developer will upgrade and beautify the existing green reserve and turn it into a public park.

“The public park will not only enhance our development of Eco Sky but elevate the value of the area as a whole,” shared Chang adding that EcoWorld was looking at this project as a long-term commitment.

For this calendar year, EcoWorld will be kept busy with four upcoming launches of Eco Terraces, Eco Sanctuary, Eco Tropics and Eco Business Park III.

Eco Terraces, its maiden launch in Penang is an exclusive condominium development in Ayer Itam is expected to be launched shortly. Meanwhile, the Group’s flagship luxury eco township in the Klang Valley, Eco Sanctuary in Shah Alam is slated to be introduced to the market in the 3Q2015. In Iskandar Malaysia, the revised masterplan for Eco Tropics and upcoming launch of Eco Business Park III is scheduled to be unveiled in the second half of 2015.

Chang said that EcoWorld is excited at the prospects of introducing the EcoWorld brand to Penang. Apart from Eco Terraces situated in Penang island, the Group has two new projects in the mainland – Eco Meadows in Bukit Tambun and Eco Marina in Batu Kawan.

EcoWorld had recently on 21 April 2015, accepted a letter of award from Penang Development Corporation to develop the 450-acre Eco Marina. The project will be a mixed development with an estimated gross development value of RM10 billion.

Eco Marina will be well connected via the Bukit Tambun Interchange on the North-South Expressway and the Batu Kawan Interchange of the Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge or better known as the 2nd Penang Bridge. The Batu Kawan interchange is about 1.5km away from the site. “Batu Kawan is set to be the third satellite town of Penang after Bayan Lepas and Seberang Jaya and Eco Marina with its strategic location, is well poised to benefit from this.” said Chang.