Rapid economic and population growth entails an equally fast response when it comes to supporting such transformations. Thanks to Vision 2020, Malaysia continues to illustrate how an emerging market can evolve into a fully-developed nation with a clear path and co-operation among the public and private sectors. The feat is not without its challenges, however. Malaysia's housing needs, for instance, are growing at an estimated rate of 300,000 to 400,000 homes per year, while the construction rate is only at 100,000 units annually. Aiming to bridge this gap are the country's biggest builders and property developers - led by IJM Land, whose "innovative and environmentally sustainable" thrust mirrors that of the nation. IJM Land stands out from the property development industry with an unmatched geographically diverse portfolio that complements the government's long-term "housing the nation" programme. Its projects are strategically located in Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Johor, Sabah and Sarawak. The company has also ventured overseas and has continuing projects in London, Vietnam and China. "Buying a property from us or investing in our projects means buying into the IJM Land brand, which people have come to trust for more than 30 years for providing high-quality products," says CEO and managing director Soam Heng Choon. "Today, we are making another milestone building contemporary, innovative and environmentally sustainable neighbourhoods and unique product mixes based on market demands." IJM Land is among the top 100 companies listed on the Bursa Malaysia with a market capitalisation of about HK$9.76 billion. It is also one of the few companies that emerged stronger from the Asian financial crisis in the 1990s and the global economic slowdown in 2008, proving that finding the balance between taking calculated risks and taking preventive measures is key to a business' endurance. "One must seize the opportunity as a business entity, so taking calculated risks is necessary to ensure growth," Soam says. "We owe it to our shareholders, customers and other stakeholders to be responsible, transparent and sustainable." Exemplifying IJM Land's intensified efforts to build a stronger, sustainable global presence is the Royal Mint Gardens in London, which is the developer's first foray into Britain. Targeted at an international clientele, the 1.1-hectare mixed development project was marketed last year in London, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Hong Kong - and has since nearly sold out. The company has other major projects closer to home, including a completed seaside development in Sentosa, Singapore, and a serviced office suites project in Changchun on the mainland, which is slated for completion this year. "There is an immense potential market in and from Hong Kong and mainland China," Soam says. "As a developer from an equally growing economy with a similar culture and mindset, we look forward to serving and working with more Chinese clients." IJM Land has more projects in the pipeline within Malaysia, including the Pantai Sentral Park and Seri Riana condominiums in Kuala Lumpur, and 528 Epic serviced apartments and Sebana Cove bungalows in Johor. Among its biggest domestic projects is The Light Waterfront Penang, which will be one of the largest waterfront integrated business, retail, entertainment and cultural destinations in the state. Apart from welcoming interested investors, the company is also open to forming joint ventures with land owners who aim to extract more value from their properties. "We still have about 1,862 hectares of land bank and more than HK$63.41 billion in total gross development value - enough to hopefully help address Malaysia's rising housing demands," Soam says. "The next goal is to continue diversifying our portfolio locally and internationally, while upholding IJM Land's fundamental principle of creating value for our stakeholders." IJM Land www.ijmland.com