KHAZANAH & BOUSTEAD JOIN FORCES
TO DEVELOP EDUCATIONAL THEME PARK
KUALA
LUMPUR, June 23, 2009 -
The Government's investment arm, Khazanah Nasional Berhad (Khazanah),
through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Themed Attractions and Resorts
Sdn Bhd (TAR), together with Government-Linked Boustead Holdings
Berhad (Boustead Group) marked a significant milestone today by
signing a licensing agreement via their Joint Venture company, Rakan
Riang Sdn. Bhd. (RRSB), to develop KidZania Kuala Lumpur. RRSB is
80% held by TAR and 20% held by Boustead Curve Sdn Bhd (a wholly-owned
subsidiary of the Boustead Group).
KidZania Kuala Lumpur will be an indoor educational theme park which
allows children to experience adult occupations first hand. It will
be located in Mutiara Damansara in a new 7-storey building diagonally
across from the Curve. The building will be physically linked to
the Curve via a sky bridge. The RM50 million KidZania theme park
will occupy approximately 60,000 square feet on Levels 6 and 7 of
the proposed building and is expected to be open to the public at
the start of 2012. It hopes to attract some 500,000 visitors per
annum.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister of Education, Y.A.B. Tan Sri Dato' Haji Muhyiddin Mohd
Yassin, Khazanah's Managing Director YBhg. Tan Sri Dato' Azman Hj.
Mokhtar and Director of Boustead Holdings Berhad, YBhg. Dato’
Ghazali Mohd Ali. The licensing agreement was signed by Founder
and CEO of KidZania S.A. de C.V., Mr. Xavier Lopez Ancona, and YAM
Tunku Ali Redhauddin ibni Tuanku Muhriz on behalf of RRSB.
KidZania was
named the Best Theme Park Worldwide by The Themed Entertainment
Association in 2001. In both 2003 and 2006 it was awarded the Top
Family Entertainment Centre of the World by the International Association
of Amusement Parks & Attractions (IAAPA). Just last week, KidZania
was named Global Leisure Operator of the Year by Retail & Leisure
International (RLI), in an awards ceremony in London.
YBhg Tan Sri Dato' Azman Mokhtar commented: "We are heartened
to collaborate with Boustead on this unique project, which represents
Khazanah's second investment in theme parks. This investment reflects
our continued commitment to catalyse the domestic economy by investing
into sectors that have high multiplier effects. KidZania on its
own could boost the services industry, and is a strong complement
to the education and entertainment sectors."
"KidZania will take edutainment to another level as children
will be able to learn how to be responsible members of the society
and at the same time, get inspired to achieve success in the future."
YBhg. Dato'
Ghazali Mohd Ali, Director of Boustead Group added: "Mutiara
Damansara is certainly recognised as a vibrant and fully integrated
township as it captures the lifestyle needs of today's modern family.
As such, we are pleased to have this synergistic alliance with Khazanah
to introduce KidZania to Malaysians as it will reinforce the value
proposition and popularity of Mutiara Damansara."
"We are confident that the location for KidZania Kuala Lumpur
is indeed an ideal one given that its neighbouring commercial entities
such as the Curve, e@Curve, IKEA, IKANO and Tesco will drive further
traffic to this latest theme park. Coupled with the fact that KidZania
Kuala Lumpur offers a high level of parent-child interaction, this
will resonate very well with our target market which places great
emphasis on family values."
"More importantly,
we believe that KidZania will provide us with a positive return
on investment based on the strong response and success experienced
by KidZania in other countries."
"We are very proud to establish KidZania in Malaysia with Khazanah
and the Boustead Group - we could not imagine better partners. Their
commitment to foster education and moral values through entertainment
mirrors the KidZania mission. Together, we truly can help children
to get ready for a better world," said Mr. Xavier Lopez Ancona,
Founder and CEO of KidZania S.A. de C.V.
KidZania is a family entertainment centre where children play adult
roles in a child-sized replica of an actual city with streets, buildings,
shops as well as vehicles moving along its streets. In this city,
children learn about the adult world, active social interaction
and the value of money and work. Children can work as doctors, firefighters,
policemen, journalists or be involved in 100 other role-playing
activities at more than 40 establishments to earn income in the
form of "kidZos", which they can then spend elsewhere
in the KidZania city or save in their own KidZania bank accounts.
Apart from this, renowned brands and products will be featured and
incorporated into the city environment to create a truly realistic
atmosphere.
KidZania is the brainchild of Mexican entrepreneur, Mr. Xavier Lopez
Ancona, a former GE Capital executive. The first KidZania opened
its doors in 1999 in the Santa Fe Shopping Mall of Mexico City;
this facility has maintained an annual average attendance of over
800,000 visitors since opening. KidZania has also opened its doors
in Monterrey, Mexico; Tokyo and Koshien (outside Osaka) in Japan;
Jakarta, Indonesia; and Lisbon, Portugal. KidZania is already developing
additional locations in South Korea, Dubai, Chile, Thailand, India,
China and Turkey.
About
Khazanah Nasional Berhad
Khazanah is the investment holding arm of the Government of Malaysia
entrusted to hold and manage the commercial assets of the Government
and to undertake strategic investments. Khazanah was incorporated
under the Companies Act 1965 on 3 September 1993 as a public limited
company. Khazanah has a nine member board comprising representatives
from the public and private sectors. YAB Dato' Sri Mohd Najib Tun
Haji Abdul Razak, the Right Honorable Prime Minister of Malaysia
is the Chairman of the Board.
Khazanah has
stakes in more than 50 companies with assets valued in excess of
USD23 billion. Khazanah is also the state agency responsible for
strategic cross-border investments. These companies are involved
in various sectors such as power, telecommunications, banking, automotive,
airport management, infrastructure, property development, broadcasting,
semiconductor, steel production, electronics, investment holding,
research technology and venture capital.
About
Boustead Holdings Berhad
Since its inception as a modest trading entity more than 180 years
ago, the Boustead Group has grown by leaps and bounds to comprise
more than 80 subsidiary and associate companies, and has substantial
interests in various sectors of the Malaysian economy. The Boustead
Group's operations are focused in six key areas; plantation, heavy
industries, property, finance & investment, trading and
manufacturing & services. As at 31 December 2008, Boustead
Holdings Berhad's paid-up capital is RM326 million, while its shareholders'
funds stand at RM2.9 billion.
-ends-
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For further information, please call:
Khazanah Nasional Berhad
Mohd Asuki Abas at 03-2034 0294 or email asuki.abas@khazanah.com.my
Issued on behalf of: Boustead Holdings Berhad--------
By: acorn communications sdn bhd
Natalia Ghani at 012 231 4782 or Reshvinder Kour at 017
275 7985, 03-7958 8348
or email acorncommunications@acornco.com.my
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