Perbadanan Nasional Bhd (PNS) has allocated RM410 million worth of investments and financing for this year as it sees opportunities in the property and equity investment markets, reported The Sun Daily.
“We are always monitoring, we are looking at business opportunities and evaluating business proposals on equity investments, in which we invest in companies for a medium-term of three to five years,” said managing director Datuk Syed Kamarulzaman Zainol Khodki Shahabudin.
An agency owned by the Ministry of Finance Incorporated, PNS has an equity investment of RM192.5 million as at end-November.
On property investment, PNS plans to have more property development activities after its maiden RM800 million mixed development project in Bangi.
“If you want to generate high returns, then you have to invest in property development, that is something that requires a lot of funds,” said Syed Kamarulzaman.
He noted that PNS owns 1,200 acres of land in Negeri Sembilan and Johor.
“Currently, the land is used for plantation. If we decided to do property development, we will be looking for the right business partners to invest in.”
Set to be completed by 2018, the Bangi project will feature a hypermarket, shop houses, and condominiums.
PNS also announced that it is partnering with the Malay Chamber of Commerce Malaysia to help Bumiputera entrepreneurs expand their business.
In fact, it has allocated RM60 million in franchise financing for Bumiputera entrepreneurs this year.
“We also encourage entrepreneurs to tap into food and mobile truck segment, which is a new business model,” said Syed Kamarulzaman.
PNS are planning to invest RM50 million in properties like shop lots that could then be leased to entrepreneurs.
“This year is a buyers’ market, it may be cheaper to buy properties, but there must be a need before we buy,” he explained.
Notably, PNS has set aside RM100 million for equity investment and around RM200 million as contract financing for 200 Bumiputera firms.
Resources: Propertyguru.net