SM Investments Corp.’s newly formed will focus in developing the central business park along Roxas Blvd, its Tagaytay properties, Hamilo Coast, a new residential resort complex in Batangas, and the mall-anchored residential projects.

SM Investments Property group will set the direction of the company’s ventures in residential and condominium development, commercial development, and leisure and tourism.

The property Group is headed by SM Investments Vice-Chairman Henry T. Sy, Jr., who will serve as its managing director.

“While remaining anchored in the retail and shopping mall business, we a lot of growth potential in the property sector, which is recovering from the 1997 Asian crisis. This opportunity is partly an offshoot of our commitment to create value in the areas we develop, which, in turn, draws the buyers who appreciate convenience, improved quality of life and value for money. He said.

SM Investments is using its landbank to lay the ground the groundwork for various real estate projects. The conglomerate is targeting key market segments, including the overseas Filipino workers, the booming business process outsourcing sector, and the rising number of tourist, both domestic and foreign.

SM Investments plans to take advantage of the growing number of SM Shopping malls – numbering 25 to date – which may serve as the anchor for the conglomerate’s other property ventures.

The value of properties surrounding the malls always increase whenever we put up a new SM mall so we would like to participate in that,Sy said.

This is certainly the case for SM Investment’s direct venture into office and commercial development. SM Prime Holding’s Mall of Asia, touted as the region’s biggest shopping and leisure destination, outside of China, serves as the anchor for the conglomerate’s Central Business Park (CBP) along scenic Manila Bay.

The CBP is a 60-hectare contiguous piece of land in Bay City, Pasay owned by SM Investments subsidiary Shoemart, Inc. It has been masterplanned and developed by SM Investments to become one of the prime real estate destinations for retail operators, commercial and office headquarters, BPOs and financial institutions. It is the most scenic business district in Metro Manila enjoying the view of Manila Bay and its spectacular sunset. It is also the closest business district to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The 386,000-square meter Mall of Asia is the centerpiece of the CBP.

Adjacent to the Mall of Asia will be the 10-story OneEcom-Center Complex, and the MAITRAIDE Expo and Convention Center, both of which broke ground in March. SM Investments is spending 2.4 billion pesos for the two projects. A sports arena is also in the pipeline of anchor projects in the CBP for sporting events and entertainment shows.