Business Park Forum

Runoff from Braneida Industrial Park [Brantford, Ontario, Canada] Finally Being Addressed

Global Business Parks — 2012-05-18T11:34:53-07:00

This article details some of the process, design and expense in dealing with rainwater that is not properly diverted.

Article from the Brantford Expositor

PARIS � It took a decade of perseverance over politics and bureaucracy, but Paul Singh is finally within sight of getting two municipalities and the Ministry of Transportation to co-operate on a $3.4-million rechanneling project to reclaim his land.

In a special meeting Tuesday, Brant County council unanimously approved two readings of a bylaw accepting a drainage report from K. Smart Associates Ltd. detailing the rechanneling of a tributary from Garden Avenue to Fairchild Creek.

The purpose is to remediate a major problem of erosion on the Singh lands on the southwest side of Highway 403 and Garden, stemming from massive runoff that has turned a natural drainage ditch into a major, fast-moving stream that also cut off access to the northern part of the property.

Another part of the project is to construct a bridge over the stream.

The county will take out a debenture to be repaid through levees on the relevant land owners. The county's direct share is $274,872.

Council will move third reading in June after a requisite court of revision session on the project, but barring any unforeseen circumstances, Singh and county officials are celebrating what they consider a major agreement.

�It has taken a long time since I bought the land in 2001 but it was worth it,� a jubilant Singh recounted in an interview after the vote.

He had to go through several letters and interviews first to get officials to accept the problem and then get a consultant to draw up a remediation plan.

�We expected it was going to be a slow process,� Singh continued. �I had to be persistent, but also patient and conciliatory to get a satisfactory end. Now everybody wins � the city, the county and the environment. We can have a green future on that land.�

Brant Mayor Ron Eddy also reflected on Singh's patience in getting a settlement of a problem that befell him shortly after he bought the land.

When the MTO undertook work at the 403-Garden Avenue interchange, runoff from the city's Braneida Industrial Park rushed toward through drainage ditch in such a torrent that it chewed deep trenches through the soil and radically changed the area.

�I remember when that ditch was a shallow slow one. But the water cut so deeply that it became like the Grand Canyon,� Eddy said while shaking hands with Singh after the vote.

�We're pleased that this is happening. We're finally making progress, and when we're done, everything will be much better.�

Work likely will start in June shortly after council has approved third reading.

The remediation take into consideration the drainage of water that comes from 4,000 acres in the affected watershed area that includes city and the county territory. The vast majority of the work will be on the Singh property.

The channel will go 1,600 metres downstream of Garden Avenue, through the Singh property and an adjacent owner toward Fairchild Creek. The stream will be excavated, then reworked to have the water move more slowly.

Stone riffles will be created in the stream using 20,000 tonnes of stone placed in strategic locations.

The earth excavated from the channel will be left on site at five agreed locations on the Singh property to save the cost of transporting it elsewhere.

michael-allan.marion@sunmedia.ca

Matthews Asia Quick Notes on Thailand and Indonesia

Global Business Parks — 2012-05-18T09:36:02-07:00

Matthews Asia has a great website covering the situation and events in the region. Yesterday's postcard gives a quick overview of what's going on in Thailand and Indonesia.

Matthews Asia Postcard from South East Asia

Week of May 18, 2012

A recent research trip I took to Thailand and Indonesia was a welcome break from watching gloomy macroeconomic data flash across my office computer terminals. Being on the ground, and literally on the streets, in Bangkok, Jakarta and several smaller Indonesian towns offered a reality check on the economic potential of Southeast Asian countries. This is not to say that these countries don�t face challenges at their respective stages of economic developments. But speaking face to face with management teams offered me a fuller perspective.

In the case of Thailand, the country�s under-investments in flood prevention infrastructure was apparent when Thailand suffered from widespread flooding damage late last year. The floods destroyed major industrial estates and disrupted automobile and technology hardware manufacturing supply chains for months.
[GBP note: see our coverage of the floods in Thailand's industrial parks]

The current government was also criticized by both local and foreign investors for failing to react swiftly enough and to provide assurance of credible long-term natural disaster management solutions. However, since the Pheu Thai (PT) Party, led by Yingluck Shinawatra, was voted into office last July, I have sensed that businesses and consumers have moved forward from the fatigue of political gridlock. The most encouraging sign from my visit was that of stronger economic activity beyond the greater Bangkok region. Real estate, consumer lending, insurance companies and retailers are seeing increasing contribution to revenue growth from Thailand�s northern rural area or �upcountry.� This has come as agricultural sector workers have seen their incomes rise in recent years, and the development, in turn, should provide companies with a more diversified revenue base as their historical reliance upon the greater Bangkok market is reduced.

Meanwhile in Indonesia, the hot-button issue is the government�s plan to reduce fuel subsidies in an effort to better manage its fiscal stability and budget allocation. The proposal has since spurred national protests as well as resistance from other political parties. With the country�s growing car ownership and infrastructure developments, reform is critical in order to balance both the government�s fiscal health and the country�s need for affordable fuel. From speaking with a manager of a local auto dealer, I learned that the majority of cars sales 30 years ago were concentrated in the greater Jakarta area, but today he finds that other areas are outpacing the metropolitan area in sales. Indonesia�s economic outlook appears stable (Moody's joined Fitch in upgrading Indonesia to investment grade status in January), and demand for a range of items�from such modern conveniences as fast food to larger ticket items such as automobiles�is robust. Indonesia�s presidential election is slated for 2014, and many will surely be focused on the country�s ongoing reforms and the challenges to come.
[GBP note: See our news about industrial parks in Indonesia]

Lydia So
Portfolio Manager
Matthews International Capital Management, LLC

The subject matter contained herein has been derived from several sources believed to be reliable and accurate at the time of compilation. Matthews does not accept any liability for losses either direct or consequential caused by the use of this information. Investing in small- and mid-size companies is more risky than investing in large companies as they may be more volatile and less liquid than large companies.

Rohde & Schwarz�s setting up global hub in brand new SGD 58 million (EUR 35 million) building at Changi Business Park, Singapore

Global Business Parks — 2012-05-14T20:58:48-07:00

Press Release from Rohde & Schwarz
Rohde & Schwarz intensifies strategic operations with SGD 85 million (EUR 52 million) investment in Singapore facility

Singapore, Apr 25, 2012 - Part of Rohde & Schwarz�s investment includes a brand new SGD 58 million (EUR 35 million) building at Changi Business Park, Singapore. Targeted for completion by the fourth quarter of 2013, the building will be the first global hub outside the company�s headquarters in Germany. The Munich-based high-tech electronics company broke ground on 25 April 2012 to commemorate this major strategic milestone for Rohde & Schwarz that also reflects its continued commitment to Singapore.

Marking a major strategic milestone for the company, Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG, a family-owned global high-tech electronics company, is investing SGD 85 million (EUR 52 million) in Singapore�s economy over the next three years. Part of this investment includes the injection of SGD 58 million (EUR 35 million) to design and build its own global hub in Singapore � its first outside Germany. With an area of 12,747 square meters, the new facility will house two important entities: namely Rohde & Schwarz Asia, which serves as a global hub for R&D, Engineering and Production; and Rohde & Schwarz Regional Headquarters, which manages the businesses in the Eastern Hemisphere � comprising Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa � worth more than a third of Rohde & Schwarz�s net revenue.

To further enhance its global footprint in Singapore and to fortify its presence in the Eastern Hemisphere, Rohde & Schwarz is injecting additional share capital in its wholly-owned subsidiary, Rohde & Schwarz Asia Pte Ltd. As a global hub, the company has also expanded its existing system engineering operations to include other key activities and functions that are normally conducted in Munich. These include product charter responsibility, full scale R&D, production and supply chain.

�Our presence in Singapore and the region has grown exponentially since we first began here in 1997. This new facility is a clear signal of our strong commitment to Singapore, and will give us the space to expand through a vast scope of higher value-added activities, including capital investment and knowledge-intensive work like innovative product development and R&D,� said Mr. Gerhard Geier, President and Chief Operating Officer, Rohde & Schwarz.

Mr. Manohar Khiatani, JTC Corporation�s Chief Executive Officer said: �We are delighted that Rohde & Schwarz, a world technological leader, has decided to establish its first global hub outside of its German headquarters in Singapore. This reaffirms the strong and growing partnership between Rohde & Schwarz and Singapore. The company�s decision to site this new hub at Changi Business Park also underlines the unique and conducive environment that the Park offers for high technology and R&D companies. We are confident of Rohde & Schwarz�s continued success in Singapore and look forward to further strengthening our long-lasting partnership.�

�We are pleased that Rohde & Schwarz has chosen Singapore to site its first global business hub outside of Germany to serve the region. Singapore�s pool of highly skilled manpower, strong manufacturing base and R&D capabilities offer Rohde & Schwarz an ideal location to strengthen its business footprint in Asia. I firmly believe that Singapore�s business-friendly environment and strategic location will contribute to Rohde & Schwarz�s growth and success,� added Mr. Yeoh Keat Chuan, Assistant Managing Director, Singapore Economic Development Board.

Designed by local architect Forum, the new, seven-floor Rohde & Schwarz building is a state-of-the-art Green Mark Platinum building. With its simple iconic appeal, the facility will complement and blend with the excellent architectural landscape within Changi Business Park. Asia Pacific: Wen Shi Tong, Phone: +65 6 307-0029, E-mail: WenShi.Tong@rohde-schwarz.com

Rohde & Schwarz

Rohde & Schwarz is an independent group of companies specializing in electronics. It is a leading supplier of solutions in the fields of test and measurement, broadcasting, radiomonitoring and radiolocation as well as secure communications. Established more than 75 years ago, Rohde & Schwarz has a global presence and a dedicated service network in over 70 countries. It has approx. 8400 employees and achieved a net revenue of � 1.6 billion in fiscal year 2010/2011 (July 2010 to June 2011). Company headquarters are in Munich, Germany.

R&S � is a registered trademark of Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG

Press contacts:
Asia Pacific: Wen Shi Tong, Phone: +65 6 307-0029, E-mail: WenShi.Tong@rohde-schwarz.com

Fremont Technology Park in Fremont, Nebraska is Shovel-Ready to Launch

Global Business Parks — 2012-05-11T17:08:23-07:00

Fremont Technology Park is Ready for Business!

Posted on:April 23, 2012
Category:From the Office

The Fremont Technology Park is an 80-acre shovel-ready site that is owned by the City of Fremont. The city has done a considerable amount of infrastructure development to make the site ideal for a technology related business or data center. The site is an excellent central location just 20 minutes from Omaha, Nebraska and 35 minutes from the Omaha Eppley Airfield.

The City of Fremont offers competitive local incentives, and the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, through the Nebraska Advantage Program, has some of the most aggressive tax incentives in the nation. The site is served by a ring fed redundant and reliable 69kV transmission line for power that is owned and operated by the City of Fremont with some of the lowest cost per kWh in the nation. The electrical system has been rated as excellent by local industries due to its reliability and service.

The site has access to a minimum of four telecom fiber carriers with ring fed redundant fiber entrances into the site. All four carriers are capable of providing up to 10 Gbps of bandwidth to the site. Two of the carriers can support multiple 10 Gbps circuits to the site.

Fremont has a strong, well educated workforce. Metropolitan Community College in Fremont offers a data center management degree program that trains students on various aspects of data center design and management and has a hands-on working data center lab for real world training for its students. The college offers the first of its kind two year degree program in green data center management in partnership with IBM.

Fremont, with its 26,397 residents, maintains a small town feel yet offers immediate access to the cultural and entertainment amenities of a large metro area. Strategically located at the crossroads of major highway links, residents are able to reach west Omaha in just 20 minutes and the downtown areas of Lincoln and Omaha in less than an hour.

Fremont Business Park Tries Radio Ads on Radio Zindagi in Effort to Attract Asian-owned Businesses

Global Business Parks — 2012-05-10T22:41:18-07:00

Fremont Business Park Takes to the Airwaves on Radio ZindagiTuesday, May 8th, 2012

Fremont Business Park Takes to the Airwaves on Radio Zindagi

Fremont is a dynamic, multicultural community. Recent studies have found that more than 40% of Fremont�s residents are immigrant families, many of them from India or other Southeast Asian countries. Radio Zindagi, 1550 on the AM band, is the first 24�7 radio station dedicated to serving the needs of the Southeast Asian community.

Now, Fremont Business Park has taken to the airwaves to reach out to Radio Zindagi�s fast-growing audience seven days a week over the next month and perhaps longer.

�Asian business people have made Fremont one of the Bay Area�s most well-educated, affluent and inventive communities,� said Borelli Investment Company Chairman Ralph N. Borelli. �We�ve seen many Asian-owned businesses move into Fremont Business Park over the past several years and we wanted to deliver our message directly to a larger number of prospective future tenants. Radio Zindagi provides a new way to do that.�

Bollywood Music, Talk Shows and More

Radio Zindagi�s schedule is exceptionally diverse, designed to appeal to the varied tastes of its listeners.

Among the program offerings listeners enjoy are:

� Bollywood music and other memorable songs

� Film gossip, star biographies and the latest news

� Talk shows and a women�s hour

� In-language shows in Punjabi, Telugu, Tamil, Gujarati, Bengali, and more

� Financial reports, real estate programs and other specials

In addition to listening at 1550 on the AM radio dial, people can listen on their computer throughout the day over a live Internet stream by visiting radiozindagi.com and clicking on the link.

Hear Fremont Business Park Ads Throughout the Week

Fremont Business Park is running two 30-second ads four times daily between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. The ads were voiced by Sumii Jhingon, a real estate professional who can help arrange for interested business people to tour Fremont Business Park � a three-building office complex ideally situated on Christy Street in south Fremont just off I-880 at the Auto Mall Parkway exit. Listen to the two ads here and here.

Fremont Business Park was completely renovated less than two years ago and offers some of the most modern, inviting office space in the East Bay. Units are available from as small as 400 sq. ft. to as large as 6,000 sq. ft. Amenities include the fastest fiber optic Internet service in Fremont, a well-equipped common conference room, exercise gym with showers, great access to shopping and services, and much more.

For additional information, e-mail Lee Jatta, or call him at (408) 453-4700 x140.

Mozambique's First Science and Technology Park May Become Reality in 2012

Global Business Parks — 2012-05-10T10:58:11-07:00

First mentioned in 2008 (Science on the up in Mozambique), a Science and Technology Park may finally become a reality this year.

From Article in AllAfrica:

Maputo � Mozambique's Minister of Science and Technology, Venancio Massingue, told reporters on Tuesday that everything is being done to ensure that the country's first Science and Technology Park, under construction at Maluana, about 90 kilometres north of Maputo, will be inaugurated this year.

Meeting on Tuesday, the Council of Ministers (Cabinet) issued a decree formally creating the Park, though in fact the first stone in the building work was laid in February 2010.

"We are working at full speed on the final touches so that we can inaugurate this great undertaking during this year", said Massingue.

The Park is a complex aimed at the development of scientific research, the promotion of innovation, the generation of knowledge, and the development of human capital. Like other science parks throughout the world, it is intended to be a centre which produces knowledge that can drive the social and economic development of the country.

It also seeks to establish "incubators" of technology and business, aligned with the activities of higher education and research institutions, so as to generate enterprises based on technology, as well as products and services that can both be sold in Mozambique and exported.

Massingue said the Park will be managed by a public company that will be created for this purpose. That company will then establish partnerships with other service provision institutions.

"We hope that many Mozambican business people are preparing to be part of this initiative", the Minister added.

World Economic Forum on Africa in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 9 to 11 May 2012

Global Business Parks — 2012-05-10T10:19:49-07:00

GBP's take: For those not able to attend the meeting there are very good summaries of the sessions here:
http://www.weforum.org/events/world-economic-forum-africa-2012

For example, the summary on Africa's Investment Heatmap has a concise synopsis, key points and takeaways.

The conference announcement:
Over 700 Leaders from 70 Countries Will Convene This Week in Ethiopia

Fon Mathuros, Director, Media, Communications Dept., Tel.: +25-1 (0)930 098 939; E-mail: fma@weforum.org

Over 700 from more than 70 countries to participate at the World Economic Forum on Africa this week
The meeting will take place in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia for the first time, from 9-11 May
Eight African heads of state or government among 90 public figures taking part
For more information about the meeting see http://wef.ch/africa2012 and meeting Fact Sheet

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 7 May 2012 � More than 700 leaders from business, government, civil society, academia, media and the arts from over 70 countries will meet at the 22nd World Economic Forum on Africa in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 9 to 11 May. The meeting is being hosted for the first time in Addis Ababa with the support of the Government of Ethiopia.

Ethiopia, which is one of the world�s fastest growing economies, is home to the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. Thus Addis Ababa offers an exceptional opportunity to bring together pan-African and global leaders to discuss the future of the region. Under the theme Shaping Africa�s Transformation, the meeting�s agenda will integrate three pillars: Strengthening Africa�s Leadership; Accelerating Investment in Frontier Markets; and Scaling Innovation for Shared Opportunities.

�Africa is experiencing strong growth and despite the increasingly volatile global economy, African leaders are pursuing measures that will transform the region into the next global growth pole. In this context, the World Economic Forum on Africa will seek to leverage the positive political, economic and social progress of recent years by providing a true multistakeholder platform to develop new ideas and actions to achieve further sustainable, inclusive growth,� says Elsie S. Kanza, Director, Head of Africa, World Economic Forum.

Led by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia and representatives from his government, other African leaders who have confirmed their participation at the meeting are: Djibouti, President Ismail Omar Guelleh; Gabon, President Ali Bongo Ondimba; Gambia, President Yahya Jammeh; Mauritius, Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Development Charles Ga�tan Xavier-Luc Duval; Namibia, Prime Minister Nahas Gideon Angula; Nigeria, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan; Rwanda, President Paul Kagame; Tanzania, President Jakaya M. Kikwete; and Zimbabwe, Deputy Prime Minister, Arthur G. Mutambara.

In addition, leading international personalities who will be present include: Pascal Lamy, Director-General, World Trade Organization (WTO); Abdoulie Janneh, Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA); Jean Ping, Chairperson of the Commission, African Union; Gordon Brown, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (2007-2010); Fahad Bin Abdulrahman Bin Sulaiman, Minister of Agriculture of Saudi Arabia; Beverley Oda, Minister of International Cooperation of Canada, Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA); and Rajiv J. Shah, Administrator, US Agency for International Development (USAID).

Co-chairs of the meeting are: Kofi Annan, Chairman, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and the Africa Progress Panel (APP), Switzerland; Gao Xiqing, President and Vice-Chairman, China Investment Corporation (CIC), People�s Republic of China; Bekele Geleta, Secretary-General, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Geneva; Monhla Hlahla, Chairperson, Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa (IDC), South Africa; Donald Kaberuka, President, African Development Bank (AfDB), Tunisia; Doug McMillon, President and Chief Executive Officer, Wal-Mart International, Wal-Mart Stores, USA; and Tidjane Thiam, Group Chief Executive, Prudential, United Kingdom.

Notes to Editors:

Follow this year�s meeting online at http://wef.ch/africa2012
View photos from the 2012 World Economic Forum on Africa at http://wef.ch/africapics2011
Watch live webcasts of the sessions on Livestream at http://wef.ch/live
Watch the sessions on YouTube at http://wef.ch/youtube

Bangkok Synthetics Fire Kills 12 in Explosion at Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate, Rayong, Thailand

Global Business Parks — 2012-05-08T10:14:51-07:00

There are 3 articles referenced in this posting.

From The Bangkok Post:
Twelve people were killed and 129 hurt in the explosion and fire at a petrochemical factory at the Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate in Rayong province on Saturday, Deputy Public Health Minister Surawit Khonsomboon confirmed on Sunday.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra travelled to Map Ta Phut on Sunday for talks, and visited victims of the explosion at the hospital.

Mr Surawit said of the 12 killed, nine died in the explosion at a factory owned by Bangkok Synthethics Co (BSC), two at Bangkok-Rayong Hospital and one at Rayong Hospital.

Of the 129 injured, 99 had been released and 30 were still undergoing treatment - seven at Rayong Hospital, five at Map Ta Phut Hospital, 17 at Bangkok-Rayong Hospital, and one at Queen Sirikit Hospital.

Mr Surawit said the costs of medical treatment for the injured will be taken care of by the government under three healthcare schemes.

Industry Minister Pongsvas Svasti said he had ordered the closure of the factory where the explosion occurred. He has also instructed other factories in the industrial estate to recheck their security systems since the operations of more than half of them concern chemicals.

Verapong Chaiperm, governor of the Industrial Estates Authority of Thailand, said the fire at the factory was extinguished early Sunday. The damage had yet to be assessed, he said.

Kessarin Raksasang, an environment officer at BSC, said toluene might have caused the fire after being exposed to excessive heat.

Before the fire, the factory was closed for repairs, she said.

Early today, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra visited the industrial estate and met the people injured in the explosion.

Ms Yingluck has also set up a tripartite committee to examine possible toxic contamination in the area. The committee comprises experts from the Industry Ministry, the Pollution Control Department and representatives from local communties.

Thousands of people in 12 communities around Map Ta Phut were evacuated yesterday.

From the Bangkok Post: Locals slam response to factory blast

Press Release by Bangkok Synthetics

07.05.2012Announcement on Fire Incident at its Facility in Maptaphut

BST Elastomers Company Limited
Announcement on Fire Incident at its Facility in Maptaphut

Rayong, 6 May 2012: Chaiyot Wongphyat, Managing Director of BST Elastomers Company Limited, commented on the fire incident at its facility in Maptaphut Industrial Estate in Rayong on 5th of May 2012. The fire broke out at toluene vessel inside its facility at around 1520 hours. Emergency response efforts were immediately activated and the fire was under control at around 1800 hours. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. At the time of the incident, during a heavy storm, the facility was in full shut down and the process had been previously cleaned using toluene to dry out moisture. This is the last step in the shutdown procedure during a product grade switching process.

Toluene is a solvent used in synthetic rubber production and it is not classified as toxic or carcinogenic. Smoke or toluene fumes may cause irritation to eyes, skin, and the respiratory system, and may cause sleepiness, dizziness, and vomiting.

Pinit Asvasaengrat M.D., Chief of Health Promotion and Occupational Medicine Center of Bangkok Rayong Hospital said there are 11 fatalities and 141 injury cases. All injured were rushed to the hospital and received full medical care, and he confirms the level of toluene released from this incident is not harmful and not carcinogenic but can cause irritation and rash.

Chaiyot said the company deeply regrets the unfortunate incident and will take responsibility for medical care and the impact to the surrounded communities. A 24-hour call center is set up (038 698 698 x 5) together with mobile medical units to support the nearby communities.

BST Elastomers Company Limited produces synthetic rubbers for automobile tyres, automobile parts, shoe soles, sporting goods, and other rubber products.

University of Ballarat Technology Park in Mount Helen, Victoria, Australia get OK for 22 hectares expansion - could double in size

Global Business Parks — 2012-05-04T11:27:17-07:00

UB Tech Park expansion to bring prosperity: Vallance

BY RACHEL AFFLICK

04 May, 2012 11:59 PM

THE expansion of the University of Ballarat Technology Park will bring a new era of prosperity and vitality to Ballarat, the park�s director says.

Mal Vallance said if the second stage of the park grew at the pace of the first, it would be a major catalyst towards economic vitality.

�I think if there are more people coming into the city, more people buying homes and purchasing goods and services, that�s going to lead to increased vibrancy and vitality of our economic base,� he said.

�If we can attract people there, more often than not they�re going to live in the region and they�ll spend their disposable income within the region. We�ll keep our young people within our region.�

Planning Minister Matthew Guy this week rezoned 22 hectares of land for the $155 million Mount Helen project, which will double the scope of the existing park.

The second stage of the park, rolled out over 10 years, would accommodate 11 new development sites and another 1500 people.

Information technology will be a major focus, with the park also aiming to attract �tech-based� enterprises such as renewable energies, bio medicine and professional services with a strong online focus.

Mr Vallance said the park was already rivaling some of its metropolitan counterparts and had the potential to become one of the largest technology parks in Australia.

But for the plans to be achieved, the park has to first attract the new enterprises to Ballarat.

Mr Vallance said he was already in talks with two potential tenants and was �buoyant� about the future of Ballarat when it came to attracting and sustaining technology-based enterprises � including some of the bigger players in the market.

�This development assumes we�re going to do that,� he said.

�We�ve adopted a fairly pragmatic approach to development and we�ll certainly look to attract those that complement businesses that are already there.�

Article references: The Courier
University of Ballarat Technology Park News Posting

The Spires Business Park, Aberdeen, Scotland Welcomes Magma Products

Global Business Parks — 2012-05-04T10:07:26-07:00

Magma Products, a leading oil and gas engineering consultancy, has completed a �750,000 move to new offices as it looks to recruit 20 engineers as part of its long-term growth strategy.

Aberdeen-based Magma, a North Sea commissioning and start-up specialist, has moved in to 4,150 sq ft premises at The Spires business park in the city�s Mugiemoss area.

The company currently has a team of 24 but now has capacity for up to 60 personnel following the relocation from the city centre.

Paul Rushton, managing director at Magma Products, said: �We�ve enjoyed sustained growth since 2009, when the business comprised just two people, and the move to larger premises in a new commercial hub allows us to maintain that impetus behind our business development.

�We�re also looking to bring a further 20 engineers on board to support a diverse range of projects across the spectrum of our services.�

Magma has carved out a niche in the area commissioning and start-up, the process of introducing first oil and gas to new projects whereby checks, inspections, certification and tests are carried out on components and systems before handover to the operator or duty-holder.

Paul Rushton added: �Our aim is to become the �go to� company for operators and contractors for the specialist process of commissioning and start-up. We understand the need to demonstrate and verify operability of production and safety processes. It�s very much a case of think commissioning, think Magma.�

Read full article in OffshoreEnergyToday.com

Indian government working on plans to build one or more semiconductor wafer fabs

Global Business Parks — 2012-05-03T10:22:36-07:00

More than likely a new industrial park will have to be established to create the infrastructure / ecosystem needed to accommodate the Indian government's plans to enter the semiconductor fab arena. It will take a massive effort to replicate the infrastructure that Taiwan has built up over the past 25 years but the strategy behind it is to reduce the demand for imported chips which is resulting from India's exploding demand for electronics. Manufacturing chips in India will not only offset some of that demand but also would create a higher-value-added industry for the country.

Article in the Hindu Business Line:

New Delhi, April 22:

The Government's effort to set up semiconductor wafer fabrication units is finally making some headway.

At least five global semiconductor makers have expressed interest in supporting the project in some way or the other. They include Infineon Technologies, ST Microelectronics, Russian major Sitronics, GlobalFoundries and a consortium comprising Jaypee Associates, IBM and Israeli firm Tower Jazz.

Sources in the Department of Electronics and IT (DEITy) said that feelers were also sent to other technology firms, including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), Intel and Freescale.

�While Freescale and TSMC have declined the proposal, Intel has offered advisory support on infrastructure and financial matters related to semiconductor manufacturing,� the source said.

GlobalFoundries (earlier part of AMD) has indicated that it can offer know-how for 200 nm technology and also consultancy on process intellectual property.

An empowered committee, set up by the DEITy to monitor the progress of the project, has selected consultancy firm Accenture to make a detailed business proposal to enable the semiconductor firms take a final decision on investing in the project. PricewaterhouseCoopers had also submitted its bid but lost out on pricing. Accenture quoted Rs 38 lakh for the contract compared with PwC's Rs 79 lakh.

Semiconductor fabrication is an essential requirement for promoting local manufacture of electronic items. The Government wants to have at least two semiconductor wafer fabs in the country, for which it has been scouting for companies that can offer technology and investment.

In June 2011, the Government had invited technology providers and investors to submit a preliminary EoI for setting up of semiconductor fabs in the country. The empowered committee set up to evaluate the progress of the project recently met to discuss the response received.

�We have got various proposals from different companies on how they can contribute to the project. Applied Material Ltd, for example, has expressed interest in developing human resources required for the fab project and it is looking at the possibility of doing R&D in the manufacturing centre,� said a Government official.

Plans For Ethanol Plant Run Out of Gas in Poplar Bluff Industrial Park, Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada

Global Business Parks — 2012-05-02T11:26:01-07:00

From the The Daily Graphic/Central Plains Herald-Leader:
Ethanol plant nixed for Portage

By Angela Brown May 2, 2012

Portage la Prairie's plans for a new ethanol plant have been cancelled following a decision by Royal Dutch Shell PLC and its partner Iogen Corporation, announced Monday.

The plant to be located in the Poplar Bluff Industrial Park, west of Portage, was expected to create more than 100 jobs in the area.

Rural Municipality of Portage councillor Terry Simpson confirmed the proposed plant won't be going ahead.

He said a representative from Shell out of Houston, Texas, contacted him with the news.

"He basically said I have bad news for you," Simpson said. "We are shelving the project due to economics. They feel there needs to be more studies done on the process of using straw for making ethanol. They thought it wasn't economical at the present time.

"They didn't want to get the plant built and then find out afterwards that it wasn't going to pay for itself. Then, end up mothballing it," added Simpson.

He said much work has been put into the project already, including environmental studies.

�They put a lot of work into it � they have been at it for a year,� Simpson said.

If the project were to be going ahead, the announcement would have been in 2013.

�It was a disappointment to the RM of Portage, but rather than having something being built and then being disappointed if it didn�t pan out the way they wanted it, that makes it more of a liability to the oil company,� added Simpson.

In a news release, Shell said it would be refocusing its strategy going forward.

See more in Portage Daily Graphic.

angela.brown@sunmedia.ca

Read the Iogen news release here: Iogen Energy to refocus its strategy and activities

November 22, 2011 news article announcing the project:
Shell looking at establishing biofuel plant

Honda Automobile (Thailand) Co. Ltd Reopens After Floods in Rojana Industrial Park, Ayutthaya, Thailand

Global Business Parks — 2012-05-02T10:32:30-07:00

March 26, 2012

Honda Resumes Production at Automobile Plant in Thailand

March 26, 2012 � Honda Automobile (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (HATC), the Honda automobile production subsidiary in Thailand (headquartered in the Rojana Industrial Park, Ayutthaya), today resumed production of automobiles after suspending production since October 4, 2011, due to damaged sustained from the flooding in Thailand.

Since completing the drainage of the flood water at the end of November 2011, HATC had been exerting company-wide efforts to clean, inspect, repair and replace plant facilities and manufacturing equipment, which were damaged by the flood. After approximately four months of such restoration efforts, HATC is now ready to resume automobile productions at its plant. HATC is planning to hold a ceremony on March 31, 2012 to commemorate the resumption of production.

Honda has been supplying automobiles alternatively from Japan to some countries in the Asia Oceania Region including Thailand, which were impacted by the disruption of production due to the flooding. However, as of today, all production plants have resumed production and are expected to normalize in April. For all other Honda production operations outside of the Asia Oceania Region, the impact of the flooding in Thailand has already been resolved.

Positioning HATC as one of the most important production operations in the Asia/Oceania Region, Honda was totally committed to realizing the earliest possible recovery. Honda will maintain the same positioning of HATC in the future and further promote business operations in Thailand.

About Honda Automobile (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
Location: Ayutthaya province, Thailand
Representative: Hiroshi Kobayashi/President
Capital Investment: 5.46 billion baht
Capitalization Ratio: 75.94% Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
13.05% Asian Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
11.01% Others
Business Areas: Production and sales of automobiles
Established: December 2000
Employment: Approximately 4,000 associates
Production Capacity: 240,000 units per year

Truro Business Park in Nova Scotia, Canada rebrands itself in preparation of growth

Global Business Parks — 2012-05-01T14:47:09-07:00

Business Park Changes Name, Adds 500+ Acres

Posted on by mross on April 30th, 2012

April 30, 2012

Truro, NS �

One of Nova Scotia�s most successful business parks is poised to expand, in order to coincide with the predicted uptick in the provincial economy over the next three to five years.

Truro Mayor Bill Mills says he�s also pleased that Town Council and the Truro Industrial Development Commission have formally agreed to change the name of the Truro Industrial Park to Truro Business Park.

�We want to send out a signal that all businesses are welcome in Truro, and the name �business park� reflects the true nature of the town�s centrally-zoned business and industrial lands, says Mayor Mills. �The diversified nature of the Truro Business Park means we are able to host everything from logistics centres to offices to manufacturers and food and beverage processors. �

The Truro Business Park is in the final preparation stages for adding more than 500 acres of business land to its base on the south side of Truro. The new lots have been identified and streets leading into those lands are scheduled to begin construction later this year.

The Truro Business Park is also in the process of adding new signage, which shows that the park is just 35 minutes from Stanfield International Airport.

Colchester Regional Development Association Executive Director Ron Smith says it�s an exciting time for Truro-Colchester. He notes recent census numbers putting Truro near the top of Nova Scotia�s population growth list.

�This region is strategically located to take advantage of a diversified economy and the momentum expected from the Halifax Shipyards mega-deal,� says Mr. Smith. �We�re proud of the 4 per cent population growth achieved in Truro�s central core during this latest census period, and we�re preparing for even more growth.�

Mr. Smith says the news for the Truro Business Park coincides with a survey from international business consultants KPMG last month. That survey shows Truro is the most cost-competitive business location in Canada overall, and despite Truro�s smaller size, it leads business locations such as Halifax, Toronto, Moncton and Boston when it comes to business re-location costs.

Truro Industrial Commission Chair Ray Merriam notes the Truro Business Park is currently nearing capacity, and has grown by 133 per cent over the past two decades.

�It�s time to grow again,� says Mr. Merriam. �We need to keep up as the province ramps up for growth, and these changes will help us achieve that.�

"A and V Drive In" Best Food Choice When Visiting Fort Garry Industrial Park, Winnipeg, Canada

Global Business Parks — 2012-05-01T00:52:43-07:00

If you're ever visiting the Fort Garry Industrial Park in Winnipeg, Canada be sure to check out the A and V Drive In at 1200 Chevrier Blvd for some tasty burgers, breakfasts, gyros, Greek Salads, and fat boys. Very nice article in the Winnipeg Press about them.

Excess Space in Mid-America Science Park in Scottsburg, IN Helped Reduce Disruption to Henryville Schools Damaged by Tornados

Global Business Parks — 2012-04-24T13:35:21-07:00

Business parks, industrial parks and science parks with excess space / facilities can be an excellent source of temporary classroom space as demonstrated by the situation in Henryville, Indiana. As an update to our posting in March: Mid-America Science Park in Scottsburg, IN Considered as Temporary Teaching Facility for Tornado-Stricken Henryville Schools the school system now has good news that the school will be ready on time for their August 7th start. Belfor Property Restoration Indiana has been on the job 24/7 and will beat the original estimate of September 1st.

WHAS11.com news report about construction effort

For full story see article in NewsandTribune.com Henryville schools completion date changed to Aug. 1

Lockport Industrial Park Considering Incubator Building for Small Industries in the Town of Lockport, NY

Global Business Parks — 2012-04-23T09:36:08-07:00

April 22, 2012, 6:35 AM

Link to article in BuffaloNews.com

LOCKPORT � The Town of Lockport Industrial Development Agency is planning to do something about a lack of industrial space in the town.

The IDA board has received a draft site plan from the Wendel engineering firm for a 15,000-square-foot incubator building for small industries.

The project would be erected on a 1.8-acre parcel at Enterprise and IDA Park drives in the town industrial park (Lockport Industrial Park), not far from the Yahoo data center.

�We have an opportunity to fill a need. We have a significant lack of available industrial buildings in the Town of Lockport,� Economic Development Director David R. Kinyon said.

IDA Chairman Thomas A. Sy said $5,000 for engineering fees was included in this year�s IDA budget.

IDA board members R. Thomas Weeks and Paul J. Haber were appointed to a building committee to review bids from companies that will be asked to provide a building design as well as construction cost estimates.

Kinyon said the building could be designed to be expandable if the demand for space is sufficient.

�There are a lot more people looking for 1,000 or 2,000 square feet than there are looking for 15,000 square feet,� he said.

The shortage of available space has put a crimp in the town�s development program, Kinyon said.

�Any of the inquiries we�ve received in the last three years for existing buildings, we have not been able to satisfy, with the exception of Franbilt on Akron Road and the Electruk Battery plant in the industrial park,� he said. �Obviously, Electruk was a brownfield and was only on the market for a short time.�

Moley Magnetics, a Wilson company forced out of its Shadigee Road plant by a fire last year, bought the recently cleaned-up Electruk building last summer and moved its business there.

Electruk was put out of business by a 1995 fire, and a cleanup of sulfuric acid and battery lead cost the town some $30,000. The 14,000-square-foot building was sold for $10,000, and the town IDA granted Moley a 15-year property tax break.

The 45,000-square-foot Franbilt site on Akron Road has been vacant for several years, and it�s currently listed for sale by Industrial Realty and Funding, a Cheektowaga company owned by Brian Schectman, which bought the building for $925,000 at a 2008 bank foreclosure auction.

It�s zoned industrial but located in a highly residential area; the business predated the zoning ordinance, Kinyon said.

�Even when Franbilt was operating the facility, there were complaints from neighbors,� Kinyon said. The town restricted the former metal fabrication company�s hours of operation and noise levels.

�It does limit the kinds of uses for the building,� Kinyon said.

On another topic, Kinyon said talks with Yahoo to sell the company more land in the industrial park for a data center expansion are not yet complete. He said Yahoo, which plans to add jobs in Lockport despite 2,000 layoffs companywide announced earlier this month, is carrying out a site survey.

tprohaska@buffnews.comnull

AGNITY, of Fremont Business Park, Fremont, CA wins four new customers for its ACONYX CAS and application solutions

Global Business Parks — 2012-04-13T10:49:45-07:00

AGNITY wins four new customers for its ACONYX CAS and application solutions

Expands its customer footprint through four new deployments in North America, Caribbean and Latin America

SILICON VALLEY � April 2, 2012 � AGNITY, the global application solutions and technology services innovator, has won four new customers for its ACONYX application solutions across three regions. The ACONYX suite of communication applications enables service providers and carriers to deliver the best in next-gen voice and data applications through converged networks.

The new customers are:

� A tier-one operator in Caribbean and Latin America (CALA) that has replaced its legacy prepaid with our FlexYcharge charging and credit control solution offered in a hosted, subscription-based model

� A prominent telecom and data solutions provider in CALA that has deployed Next Generation IN applications (Advanced Toll Free and Voice VPN)

� A tier-one Caribbean operator that will deploy FlexYcharge for calling card implementation serving both residential (landline) and mobile subscribers. It also involves integration with their external Voucher Server and LNP database

� A tier-one North American service provider that will deploy ACONYX Communications Application Server (CAS) with custom IVR applications

For full press release click here:

AGNITY wins four new customers for its ACONYX CAS and application solutions

Fremont Business Park website
GBP listing for Fremont Business Park

Fremont Business Parks Impacted By BART Extension to San Jose, CA

Global Business Parks — 2012-04-12T10:54:04-07:00

Business Parks in southern Fremont, California must go through some pain before gaining better transportation options in the Bay Area. The long-awaited BART extension from the yet-to-be-completed Warm Springs Station is underway and will affect traffic along Mission Boulevard (South), Warren Avenue and Kato Road just off of Highway 880.
Kato Road is being grade separated from a future BART bridge and Union Pacific Railroad bridge. Kato Road will be closed for nine (9) months (starting April 30th) 2012 for major construction of the grade separation.

Warren Avenue will also be grade separated from a future BART and UPRR bridges so there will be a lot of construction and detours in the area.
For details on construction see 'trucks with dirt' in San Jose Mercury News.

For video KTVU reports on BART Extension

The VTA / Bart groundbreaking ceremony, to be held today at 2:00 p.m., will bring out a wide variety of government leaders such as Senator Dianne Feinstein, and Norman Mineta, Former U.S. Secretary of Transportation, among others.
The following is a list of Fremont business parks that will be impacted by the construction:
Fremont Business Center
Kato Business Center
Kato Business Park
Mission Falls Business Park
Warm Springs Business Center
Warm Springs Business Park
Warren Corporate Center

Click here to search for more business parks in the US

Environmental Assessment Update for Espanola Light Industrial Park in Espanola Ontario Canada

Global Business Parks — 2012-04-11T22:20:19-07:00

The following is an update on the Environmental Assessment (EA) report for the Espanola Light Industrial Park in Ontario Canada. It is a very detailed description of some of the efforts to identify Species at Risk (SAR) and fish habitat, etc.
By Dawn LalondePosted 3 months ago

In 2001, the Town of Espanola began preliminary work on establishing an industrial park to provide needed serviced lots due to limited land availability for industrial development.

In 2004, the town retained J.L. Richards and Associates Limited (JLR) to complete a Class Environmental Assessment (EA) to study the intended development of the industrial park to be located on Panache Lake Road, east of the Queensway Boulevard and the removed railway crossing. The study evaluated options and recommended a solution to service and provide access to the light industrial park (LIP). The project was completed in 2007.

The town now wishes to expand the existing industrial park to include 15 additional acres and to provide a separate access road to the industrial park. The 2004 EA had suggested, should the LIP expand beyond the original five lots, the preferred access alternative may be to construct a new access road and the road right-of-way to be included in the next Official Plan.

In July 2011, FedNor announced a government of Canada investment to assist with the town's LIP expansion. It is now the town's intent to proceed with the industrial park expansion by identifying the lands scheduled for development, by extending the existing municipal services in Panache Lake Road, and by constructing a new access road to increase accessibility to the LIP lands and mitigate additional traffic volumes.

An amendment report is being undertaken to address the additional requirements and changes in the project since the completion of the report in 2004. These requirements specifically include; a review of the natural Environment Inventory and Impact Assessment, including a species risk investigation. Additional consultation is due to the lapse in time since the original study and reviewing the Official Plan to designate a new road allowance.

The report is provided to amend the previous LIP EA report completed in 2004. It is not the intent of the report to further evaluate development servicing options, yet to build on the work and recommendations provided in original study, as well as to provide for additional review and consultation regarding the overall proposed development.

A description of existing environmental features of the study as observed at the time of the field investigation. The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), Natural Heritage Information Centre (NHIC) and the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas (OBBA) were contracted to obtain background information on the existing natural features in and surrounding the study area.

A species at risk (SAR) screening study was previously conducted to supplement a Class EA document, originally prepared in 2004 to support the expansion of the existing light LIP. This screening study identified 20 species at risk, which may potentially utilize portions of the study area. According to habitat suitability investigators, several SAR were identified as having potential for inhabiting the study area. Of the 20 species identified in the initial screening, suitable habitat was identified for 5 of those species, the Canada warbler, least bittern, whip-poor-will, Blanding's turtle, and snapping turtle. General mitigation should be followed in order to prevent impacts to these listed species, if identified prior to construction activities.

Additional field investigations are required during the appropriate season to identify any SAR which may inhabit the area and would include targeted surveys for the 5 species listed above. Targeted surveys can be completed as early as spring 2012. Specific surveys should be completed for the whip-poor-will following the MNR's draft Whip-poor-will Survey Protocol (2011a), provided development is scheduled to occur and no further mitigation would be required if targeted surveys did not reveal the presence of whip-poor-will. If targeted surveys revealed the presence of whip-poor-will within the property boundary however, an ESA permit would be need to be applied for and obtained in order for development to occur in this direct area.

Fish habitat was identified in Darkie Creek, as well as a small channel and ditching system near an existing ATV trail which runs from McCulloch drive, north to Panache Lake Road. Any construction in this area should follow mitigation measures and require authorization under the Fisheries Act.

It is expected this project will likely result in both short term and long term impacts, however if the measures outlined in the report are incorporated into the contract documents and followed prior and during the construction phase, impacts should be minimal.

Due to the location of the lands available for the access road detailed consultation and design review will be required to ensure the cost effectiveness and long term serviceability of the road. It is also to ensure proper mitigation measures are in place to minimize short term and long-term disturbances on the natural environment.

The Draft Amendment Report is now being finalized and will be available at the town office. This should allow adequate time to take public and review agency information and comments into consideration.

Read full article in Mid-North Monitor