KUALA LUMPUR (July 6): HSBC Amanah has provided new green financing to help Ikano Centres sustainably develop its Johor retail products, namely Toppen Shopping Centre and IKEA Tebrau.
As part of the Ikano Retail, which operates IKEA stores in five countries as well as shopping centres that are anchored by IKEA, Ikano Centres is currently operating and managing 3.76 million square feet in gross leasable area in its four Malaysian centres. The company is focused on enabling healthy and sustainable living by tackling its climate footprint together with tenants and customers, while creating a positive impact for people in its communities.
"HSBC's partnership with Ikano Centres on this new green financing facility in Malaysia, is a continued demonstration of the bank's commitment to supporting the transition to a low carbon economy. Our clients are increasingly prioritising sustainability to achieve their transition and growth ambitions, and we expect it to remain a crucial factor when making business decisions, particularly as the country accelerates its focus on becoming carbon neutral by 2050. Through the adoption of a sustainable business approach, we believe that Ikano will create long-term value for itself and in society at large," said HSBC Malaysia head of global banking Christina Cheah in a press statement.
She explained that the proceeds from the refinancing facility will contribute to Toppen Shopping Centre and IKEA Tebrau's ongoing development plans to create great customer experience, which in turn will support Ikano Centres as it accelerates its sustainability progress.
Toppen Shopping Centre and IKEA Tebrau, which opened in Johor in 2019, is an open-concept meeting place that attracts people from across South Malaysia and Singapore to four levels of retail and a one-of-a-kind rooftop with gardens, sports courts, a splash park and cinemas. Later this year, Toppen will extend its "retailtainment" concept with an additional multi-storey car park featuring a rooftop with 50,000 square feet of new retail space.
"We are thankful that HSBC Amanah made this green financing facility possible. We are well underway on our sustainability journey but have an ambition to do much more. That's why we are really pleased to be working with a bank that shares our commitment to building a resilient business and society. We look forward to more collaborations going forward," said Christian Roejkjaer, the chief executive officer of Southeast Asia & Mexico, Ikano Retail.
Toppen Shopping Centre and IKEA Tebrau was the first shopping centre in Malaysia to achieve a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certification for its core and shell, while IKEA Tebrau is certified as a LEED Gold property.
It was developed with a focus on renewable energy with solar PV panels in place and a rainwater harvesting system to reduce potable water consumption. The centre is currently constructing a new car park using green concrete — a mix of used cement, aluminium can fibres and other recycled materials that can help reduce carbon footprint by as much as 30%. Ikano Centres' construction team is also measuring the Co2 emissions related to delivery of materials to its site, and procuring locally to reduce its impact.
"We need to learn fast and develop new ways to reduce our carbon footprint. By 2030, we aim to power our properties entirely with renewable energy. We are working hard to tackle waste, and we want to inspire and enable our tenants and customers to reduce their impact on the planet as well," said Adrian Mirea, the director of Malaysia's shopping centre & mixed-use, Ikano Centres.