THE development progress of Aspen Vision City is well on track and ahead of schedule.
Aspen Group president and Group chief executive officer Datuk M. Murly said the IKEA store was supposed to open two years from now but the Group fast-tracked the plan.
“I am so delighted to share with you that Vervea shop office, the first development of Aspen Vision City will obtain the Certificate of Completion and Compliance (CCC) by December this year and will open for business together with the IKEA store in March next year.
“Our commercial enclave is going to be ready and we are going to have a trade centre. It is going to be one of the largest trade centres on the mainland in Penang.
“Moving forward, we are expecting to have the groundbreaking ceremony for the Columbia Asia Medical Centre,” he told a press conference at the official opening of the Central Island Park at Aspen Vision City in Bandar Cassia, Batu Kawan on Oct 17.
The Central Island Park is a 25-acre green space earmarked as the ideal destination for activities ranging from community events, family activities and recreational pursuits.
“Today, we celebrate the opening of the first phase of the park. It also marks the culmination of a wonderful process, the transformation of a brilliant idea to a spectacular masterpiece.
“Access to green spaces is clearly an important value in our developments.
“Aspen Vision City is a large scale project but you can see our commitment. We have planted more trees than buildings,” Murly said.
Penang Works, Utilities and Flood Mitigation Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said Batu Kawan was envisaged to be a sustainable eco-city.
“It is not just about putting in the best hard infrastructure, it is also to ensure that we develop a liveable, green and environmental-friendly city.
“This is in-line with the Penang government’s green agenda of becoming the greenest state in the country by 2030; to be driven by a green economy and built on the 4P (public, private, people, and professional) partnership.
“We aspire to become a high-income, caring, inclusive, low-carbon and resilient state that emphasises the integrity of our people and environment; as well as enriching and restoring the health of our cultural and natural ecosystems by 2050,” Zairil said.
He also applauded Aspen Group and its joint-venture partners for their willingness to invest a total of up to RM80 million on the Central Island Park.
According to the press statement made available to the media, the gross development value of Aspen Vision City was estimated to be more than RM13 billion.
Zairil, Bukit Tambun assemblyman Goh Choon Aik, Murly, Aspen Group executive director Datuk Seri Nazir Ariff, Ikano Group chief executive officer Lars Thorsen and IKEA Southeast Asia managing director Christian Rojkjaer planted the Deciduous Fig Ficus tree to commemorate the official opening of the Central Island Park.
Guests were treated to fancy finger food and a dance performance at the ‘four seasons tunnel’ at the Central Island Park during the official opening.
A 50m high water jet and fireworks were also displayed at the end of the event.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Ahmad Adil Muhamad and Christopher Tan
