SHAH ALAM: Shah Alam is transforming into a global metropolis with a focus on smart city initiatives, connectivity, and cultural tourism.
The infrastructure in Selangor's capital city has been improved over time to meet international standards. This includes creating cutting-edge transportation systems, enhancing highways and roads, and improving community facilities, including parks, recreation areas, and utilities.
"The state government has been promoting economic diversification by attracting foreign investment and encouraging the growth of industries beyond the current sectors. This involves creating business-friendly policies, providing incentives for international companies to set up branches or headquarters in Shah Alam, and supporting entrepreneurship and innovation.
"There is also a strong emphasis on tourism to develop tourist attractions, preserve historical sites, and organise events that showcase the city's culture, heritage, and traditions. This has created a vibrant tourism industry and increased international visibility," said a property consultant.
In line with Shah Alam's journey to be a global city, the RM10 billion i-City, a world-class international city, has introduced "One Shah Alam, One Destination", starting with the year-end festivities.
i-City, the brainchild of I-Berhad founder and chairman Tan Sri Lim Kim Hong, is a modern technology-centric development that combines residential, commercial, leisure, and entertainment components.
It is known for its vibrant and futuristic environment, featuring a combination of technology, digital innovation, and recreational attractions.
The landscape of i-City today consists of global brand names like Central i-City Mall, DoubleTree by Hilton Shah Alam i-City, and Best Western, supported by Mercu Maybank and the CNN-accoladed City of Digital Lights.
Lim told NST Property that i-City will play a bigger part in hastening Shah Alam's transformation into a global metropolis by adding more life and inclusivity to the city's growth.
Some of the new additions to i-City are a 50,000-square-foot Digital Sports Arena, an aerodome, improved digital lights, a 5-D snow experience centre, and immersive and interactive features at the Red Carpet 2.
Malaysia's No. 1 Technology City aims to record a footfall of 17 million by the end of December, of which five million visitors are expected between October and December, he said.
Gagan Talwar, general manager of the DoubleTree by Hilton Shah Alam i-City, takes pleasure in the fact that Shah Alam only has one 5-star hotel with features that meet worldwide standards.
"If you look at i-City as a destination, that has become one of our key selling points. i-City has four major components. It's got the commercial aspect in terms of Mercu Maybank and the residential aspect. But the two most interesting aspects are retail, in the form of Central i-City Mall, as well as across-the-street theme parks.
"There is a buffer where people can go and spend time away from the hotel. Event organisers are searching for a destination that will be able to offer that," he told NST Property.