‘Promoting Philippine tourism is the most important job this country has. It is through tourism that we can compete in the global marketplace,’ said Henry Sy, Sr. The words of the Sy family patriarch guided the vision for the Mall of Asia Complex.  The complex is planned to be the country’s premier business and tourism district.

The 60-hectare mixed-use development will integrate office, retail, institutional, residential and leisure components. The project is expected to boost the country’s tourism industry and redefine Manila’s place among the new and exciting urban centers of Asia.

At the center of this emerging business district is the SM Mall of Asia. The 386,000-square meter shopping complex showcases al fresco dining spaces, and interaction areas for the culture and the arts.

Just a few steps away from the SM Mall of Asia are the SM Corporate offices, which consist of six sprawling one-storey buildings. These offices presently house the corporate offices of the SM Group with a daily population of 3,000 personnel and around 1,500 suppliers, clients and applicants. On the southern portion of the complex lies the Shrine of Jesus Church, a favored venue for Catholic weddings.

Connecting via a pedestrian bridge from the north side of the SM Mall of Asia is the OneE-com Center, which is targeted for completion by year-end. The center is a 10-storey contemporary building designed for e-commerce, contact centers, BPO companies, and specialized office uses. Among the tenants of the OneE-com Center is the 16th club of Fitness First Philippines, Inc, which will occupy the building’s first and second floors.

Also set to open this November at the Mall of Asia Complex is the SMX Convention Center — a world-class venue consisting of open exhibition areas, multi-functional halls and flexible meeting rooms with modern exposition amenities for major conference and trade exhibits. The three-storey, 46,000-square meter building with basement and parking, features second level commercial shops and a pedestrian bridge way leading to the SM Mall of Asia. The SMX Convention Center is envisioned to be the country’s premier destination for both local and international trade and cultural events.

For those looking for the finest boardwalk experience, the Mall of Asia Complex offers The Esplanade. The 1.5-kilometer strip of fully landscaped open-space will be allocated to house retail and entertainment establishments and can accommodate up to 800 guests (banquet set-up). The entire stretch of the promenade will have jogging paths; bike trails, playing courts, and outdoor restaurants.

Another major development project at the Mall of Asia Complex is the SM Arena, a sprawling indoor facility for big-time sports and entertainment events that can seat over 16,000 spectators. This expansive arena is expected to be the venue of choice of major gigs of well-known international artists in the music and entertainment industries.

In addition, the Mall of Asia Complex will inaugurate the SM Mall of Asia Science and Discovery Center on October 10, 2007 — the first of its kind themed-park devoted solely to science and technology. A partnership between SM Prime Holdings and US-based Leisure Entertainment Consultancy, the SM Mall of Asia Science and Discovery Center will feature a digital planetarium and a wide range of technology and science-themed presentations and exhibits.