Central i-City is now an MRCA member

PETALING JAYA (Aug 7): Upcoming regional shopping centre Central i-City has become a member of the Malaysia Retail Chain Association (MRCA), according to Central Pattana Public Co Ltd (CPN), Thailand’s largest retail developer and investor.

Central i-City is a joint venture between CPN and I-City Properties Sdn Bhd (ICP), a subsidiary of I-Berhad. The mall was invited by the MRCA council to apply for membership and received a certificate at the association’s meeting event last month.

“We are thankful to receive this membership, effective from July 2017, as this will provide us the opportunity to capitalise on the collective experiences and resources of Malaysia’s premier and dynamic group of retail experts.

“We see this membership as a springboard to network, and establish partnerships and collaboration opportunities with retailers through sharing of insights, word-of-mouth marketing, dialogues and seminars, among other avenues. The prospect of networking with industry players and experts bodes well with our core value of ‘success of partners’,” said CPN Ventures Sdn Bhd chief operating officer Anthony Dylan in a statement.

He added that CPN aims to champion the shopping centre’s “landlord-retailer synergy” through interactive and appreciation initiatives such as retailer familiarisation trips to Thailand, tenant announcements and briefings as well as media exposure, among others.

“This will help facilitate a better understanding between us and the retailers, so we are cognisant of their needs and expectations,” added Dylan

Situated in i-City, Shah Alam, Central i-City is expected to open next year. It CPN’s maiden regional shopping centre.

According to CPN, the mall will incorporate the best of Malaysian retail and the latest ideas from Thailand, where its innovative concept will allow visitors to appreciate the Thai shopping experience — a much-loved trend — in Malaysia.

With over 20% of Bangkok retail market share, CPN manages 30 shopping centres under these brands: CentralWorld, CentralPlaza and CentralFestival, covering 70 million sq ft of gross floor area. It also manages seven office buildings, two hotels, one residential and three condominium projects in Thailand.