KUALA LUMPUR: Japanese conglomerate Sankyu Group is set to build its first human resources training centre outside Japan at the Medini Central Business District (CBD) in Iskandar Puteri, Johor.
Sankyu Group had over 30,000 employees globally from 41 overseas subsidiaries.
Medini would be among the group's global centres for diverse personnel worldwide, being trained in Malaysia, Sankyu said in a statement today.
The centre is set to begin operations in 2022.
Sankyu Southeast Asia Holdings managing director Junichi Matsumura said Malaysia continued to be a strategic hub in the region.
"This is evident in our continuous investments and developments of critical infrastructure in the country," he said in the statement.
The groundbreaking ceremony held today was remotely officiated by Iskandar Puteri mayor Datuk Salehuddin Hassan, Medini Iskandar Malaysia Sdn Bhd (MIMSB) chairman Datuk Ir Khairil Anwar Ahmad and MIMSB head Mohamad Zamani Razali.
The announcement came on the heels of Sankyu's statement in last August to build a logistics centre off the Straits of Malacca.
The centre situated in Port Klang will also be the hub for shipments from Japan and East Asia transiting to the Middle East and Northern Europe.
Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) chief executive officer Datuk Azman Mahmud welcomed Sankyu's latest undertaking.
"Sankyu's training centre in Malaysia will be its first in Southeast Asia. Our country continues to be the strategic choice selection of multinationals in the region, given our dynamic transition into high-end services to support and flourish our diversified economy," he said.
MIDA is optimistic that the training centre would bring economic benefits in terms of job creation, transfer of technology and know-hows.
"This will ultimately create new opportunities for local businesses and vendors," Azman said.
Sankyu practices unique business model that organically blends plant engineering, logistics and operational support.
In Malaysia, Sankyu serves a broad cross-section of businesses and industrial customers ranging from steel plants, petroleum refineries, automotive and power plants to electrical and electronics manufacturers.
Salehuddin said the centre would be the beginning of the many initiatives coming to fruition after years of perseverance by MIMSB, Iskandar Investment Bhd, the state government and its various agencies.
"The Sankyu Group has been a long-time investor in Malaysia since the 1960s with businesses all over Malaysia.
"We are sure that Sankyu Group will benefit from the state-of-the-art infrastructure and network of business ecosystem available in Medini," he said.
The Medini CBD recently received recognition from the state government as Johor's Hub for Digital Technology and Emerging Technologies.
During the 2021 state budget tabling last November, the CBD obtained funds to accelerate its strategic hub's development.
Medini CBD initiatives include a Blockchain Village and Southeast Asia's first drone and robotics zone (DRZ Iskandar).
Medini CBD also hosts prominent companies in the games design industry.
Among notable Japanese companies here are OK Blockchain Centre, a subsidiary of OK Wave Group, Deluxe Games and Okakichi.
Mohamad Zamani said the groundbreaking ceremony marked an important milestone for Medini as the master planner and master developer while continuing to attract many prominent and reputable tenants.
"Sankyu is the first of many developments we have been working hard on under the Iskandar NEXT initiative which focuses on the new economy, experience and talent.
"In addition to the recent relocation of Kumpulan Prasarana Rakyat Johor Sdn Bhd and Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Air Negara, we are optimistic for the future vision for the Medini CBD as a strategic hub for Johor and Malaysia," he added.