Second Columbia Asia Hospital to be built in Aspen Vision City, Penang

PENANG (June 19): Aspen Vision City Sdn Bhd has unveiled its second Columbia Asia hospital which will be located on a three-acre parcel of land in Aspen Vision City, Bandar Cassia, in Batu Kawan, Penang.

Aspen Vision City, a joint-venture company between Aspen Group and Ikano Pte Ltd, has entered into a purchase and development agreement with Columbia Asia to construct and operate the new hospital.

The agreement was signed yesterday by Aspen Group CEO Datuk M. Murly, Ikano managing director Christian Rojkjaer, Columbia Asia Southeast Asia CEO Kelvin Tan and Columbia Asia Group of Hospitals CEO John Northen.

“After the first IKEA store and regional shopping centre jointly developed with Ikano Group and managed by Ikano Retail Asia, Columbia Asia Hospital is another international brand that shares our vision of affordability and quality for everyone,” said Murly.

Tan said Columbia Asia sees great potential in Batu Kawan and Aspen Vision City and believes the region’s planned transport network will help facilitate access to the hospital.

Also present at the signing ceremony was Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng, and Aspen Group chairman and executive director Datuk Seri Nazir Ariff.

The 245-acre Aspen Vision City is a mixed-used development comprising a shopping centre and the first IKEA store in the northern region developed and managed by Ikano, residences, offices, medical facilities, a 25-acre central park, international schools, retail shops and a transportation hub in Seberang Prai.

With a gross development value of RM8 billion, the entire development is expected to be completed in 10 years.

Construction of the first phase of Aspen Vision City, Verve, which offers shopoffices, commenced in May. To date, the take-up rate for Verve stands at around 85%. It is due for completion in 2018.

This article first appeared in The Edge Property pullout, on June 19, 2015.